Libya recovers 15 migrant bodies east of Tripoli

Tripoli- At least 15 migrant bodies have been recovered along the coast east of Libya’s capital Tripoli, according to medics.

The Emergency Medicine and Support Center, which operates under the Libyan health ministry, said the bodies washed ashore in the coastal city of Khums, about 118 km east of Tripoli.

Authorities said all the bodies have been buried. Images shared by the agency showed rescue workers wearing protective suits handling the remains during recovery and burial operations.

Libya has remained a major transit point for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean since the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Qaddafi.

Thousands of migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, continue to use the country as a departure point despite dangerous desert crossings and high-risk sea journeys toward Europe.