Libya migrant boat disaster left 51 dead or missing off Tobruk
Why it matters: The wreck adds to a deadly central Mediterranean route where more than 800 migrants were reported dead or missing by mid-May.
A migrant boat carrying dozens of people toward Europe capsized off eastern Libya on June 12, leaving 51 people dead or missing near Tobruk, according to the Abreen monitoring group. Ten survivors were found, while 11 bodies were recovered and 40 others remained missing. Reuters, citing security, navy and medical sources, reported that at least 15 bodies, including a girl, washed ashore along the coastline over the past week. The Libyan coast is a main departure point for migrants trying to reach Europe, often on overcrowded and unsafe vessels. The International Organization for Migration reported more than 800 deaths or disappearances on the central Mediterranean route between Jan. 1 and May 16.