This incident follows a similar tragedy last month, where a boat carrying 80 passengers capsized near Morocco. While the identities of at least 13 Pakistanis who died in that tragedy were confirmed, over 40 people were reportedly killed by African human traffickers on board, leaving only 22 survivors.

In a statement today, the Foreign Office (FO) reported that a team from the Pakistani Embassy in Tripoli visited Zawiya city to gather details after meeting with local officials and the Zawiya hospital.

“Unconfirmed reports indicate that there were 63 Pakistanis on the boat. So far, 16 bodies have been recovered, and their Pakistani nationality was confirmed based on their passports,” the statement said.

The FO also reported that 37 people survived, with one hospitalized and 33 in police custody. It was further mentioned that around 10 Pakistanis remain missing from the incident. Three survivors are currently in Tripoli, being cared for by the Embassy.

The FO shared a list of names of those whose bodies have been recovered, and the Embassy in Tripoli continues to gather further information while maintaining contact with local authorities.

Additionally, the FO activated a ‘Crisis Management Unit’ to monitor the situation. Those seeking information about their loved ones are advised to contact the embassy using the following numbers: 03052185882, +218913870577, and +218 91-6425435 (WhatsApp). The ministry’s Crisis Management Unit can be reached at 051-9207887.