15 Sudanese Rescued, 18 Missing After Boat Sinks Off Libya

Libyan coast guard rescue teams, in coordination with local fishermen, have rescued 15 Sudanese nationals while 18 others remain missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Al-Khoms, east of the Libyan capital Tripoli, on Friday, as they attempted to reach Europe.

Eyewitnesses and multiple sources said the Libyan coast guard rescued the survivors off the Libyan coast after an inflatable boat carrying a large group of Sudanese refugees broke down during their attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward Europe.

A survivor said the boat had been carrying dozens of people when it suffered a malfunction far from shore, leading to the drowning of 18 Sudanese while 15 others were rescued. He added that they spent around eight hours at sea amid strong waves that caused the vessel to capsize.

Another survivor told Libyan police that the journey had been planned months in advance and included migrants from Sudan, Niger, Chad, and Kenya, though most of those on board were Sudanese.