A boat with migrants overturned off the coast of Libya, probably killing at least 35 people, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said today, quoted by BTA. 

Everything on the topic:

Migrant crisis 588

The tragedy happened yesterday off the coast of the Libyan city of Sabrata, a major starting point for many African migrants traveling risky across the Mediterranean, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

At least 13 killed and 10 missing after sinking two migrant boats off Tunisia

The organization said the bodies of six migrants had been exhumed and the remaining 29 had disappeared and were believed dead.

This is another tragic case of migrants from North Africa who are desperately looking for a better life in Europe, the AP notes.

According to IOM, at least 53 migrants have died or been drowned off Libya's coast in the past week alone.

Earlier this month, more than 90 people traveling in a crowded boat drowned in the Mediterranean, days after leaving Libya, according to the NGO Doctors Without Borders.         

In recent years, human traffickers have taken advantage of the chaos in Libya and smuggled migrants across the land borders with its six neighboring countries.

Migrants are usually crammed into poorly equipped boats.

If returned to Libya, they are usually taken to government-run detention centers, where they are often ill-treated.   

From the beginning of January to April 11, at least 476 migrants died on their way through the central Mediterranean, according to IOM data.

Migrant crisis

Libya

drowned people