UN confirms 66 migrant deaths near Libyan coast

By Fatih Erel

GENEVA

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Friday moved to clarify claims more than 200 people were feared dead in a capsizing incident off the Libyan coast earlier this week.

The IOM said some 66 migrants had died in the Mediterranean on Tuesday.

IOM spokesman Joel Millman told Anadolu Agency on Friday one dinghy had capsized.

“About 120 were on board. Fifty were rescued and brought to Libya on 21 March, the others (about 66, including the corpses recovered by the Libyans and later by OpenArms) died," he added.

"The presence of [a] second dinghy is not confirmed," Millman said.

A Spanish aid organization, Proactiva claimed on Thursday two boats had capsized and more than 200 migrants were feared dead after five bodies were discovered off the Libyan coast.