Warning: Graphic images
The bodies of more than 100 migrants and refugees washed ashore on the beaches along Libya’s Mediterranean coast on Friday, drowned after their boat capsized while attempting to cross from North Africa to Europe.
At least 40 of the 107 victims were women, and five were children. All but a few were from Africa.
They were believed to have perished within the past 48 hours, a spokesman for Libya’s Red Crescent told the Associated Press.
It was unclear what boat they had been traveling on, the spokesman said.
While a migrant boat had capsized off Libya on Wednesday, strong winds and currents could have carried the bodies across great distances, making it difficult to determine for sure where they came from.
The bodies were found near the Libyan city of Zuwarah, about 30 miles from Libya’s border with Tunisia.
The capsize tragedy stood in contrast to a separate migrant boat sinking off the coast of the Greek island of Crete, also on Friday.
Some 340 migrants were rescued from that incident, with four people dead. The Greek coast guard said survivors would be taken to Italy, Egypt, Malta and Turkey, the AP said.
As of May 30, an estimated 2,443 migrants and refugees have died during treacherous Mediterranean passages this year, according to the International Organization for Migration.
With Post wires