By Walid Abdullah
TRIPOLI (AA) - At least five people were killed and 65 others rescued alive off the Libyan northwestern coast, the country’s navy said on Tuesday.
Libyan Coast Guard received information that a migrant boat needed urgent help 9 miles off the coast of Khoms city, said a statement by the Libyan Navy of the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).
The boat was carrying migrants from Sudan, Egypt and Morocco. A search is underway for more possible survivors or bodies.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 578 migrants have drowned in the triangle between Libya, Malta and Italy in the Mediterranean since the beginning of the year until August 15.
Last year, more than 2,240 people either died or went missing at sea while attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean, according to the UN Refugee Agency.