At least 50 migrants bound for Europe die in Mediterranean accidents off Libya

At least 50 migrants have died off the coast of Libya over the past days in boat accidents, as government officials and aid organizations on Sunday reported the rescue of hundreds of people.

Around 30 bodies were removed from the water after a ship was overturned by a strong wave on Saturday, said Libyan coastguard spokesman Ayoub Qasim. Some 44 migrants, primarily from Somalia, were rescued in that accident around 60 kilometres east of Tripoli.

Shortly thereafter, more than 110 migrants in a refugee boat were intercepted in the same area and taken back to Libya.

A spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR told dpa that around 20 more migrants drowned after falling out of an overcrowded dinghy late Wednesday into Thursday. This was reported by rescuers who brought the surviving migrants to the Sicilian city of Augusta on Saturday.

According to the Italian coastguard and aid organizations, more than 1,100 people were rescued in the Mediterranean since Wednesday.

Libya has descended into chaos since the 2011 revolt that toppled long-time dictator Moamer Gaddafi.

The North African country has since emerged as the gateway to Europe for people fleeing war, persecution and poverty. Hundreds of thousands have made the dangerous journey across Africa and the Mediterranean towards Italy.