The bodies of 11 people were found off the coast of Libya on a migrant crossing route on Friday morning, August 14. A plane operated by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) found the bodies approximately 57 nautical miles from the town of Zuwara.
They were in an advanced state of decomposition and were floating within the Libyan Search and Rescue (SAR) area of responsibility, it is reported. The NGO aircraft's report was then sent to the Italian Coast Guard's National Operations Center.
Discovery by NGO aircraft
Sky reported that the bodies of the migrants were found by the crew of the Albatross plane. Some were still dressed, while others were floating on tyre tubes.
Sea-Watch also reports another incident that occurred during the night, Sky also added. Quoting information from Sea-Watch, the broadcaster claimed six people were thrown overboard and subsequently reached by the crew of the organisation who rescued them.
Previous incidents on the route
In a similar incident that happened in June, according to authorities and organizations involved in the response, at least 11 people died after a boat which had set sail from Libya with approximately 60 people on board, capsized near Malta. The Italian Coast Guard recovered the bodies of 10 victims.
In another incident linked to migrant routes in the central Mediterranean, a wooden boat departing from Tripoli capsized with approximately 105 people on board. Among them there also were women and children. The vessel remained in difficulty for hours, Italian public broadcaster RAI reported, adding that despite rescue operations were launched, more than 70 people went missing.
