News Center- At least 60 people are believed to have died after a vessel carrying migrants across the Mediterranean from Libya ran into trouble a week ago. Yesterday, the 25 survivors were picked up by the Ocean Viking, a vessel operated by the humanitarian group SOS Méditerranée.

The survivors told the rescue team that they had set off from Zawiya on the Libyan coast several days before being rescued and that the engine of the boat broke down after three days, leaving the boat adrift without food or water.

“Another massive tragedy on the Med with reports of at least 60 deaths,” Shabia Mantoo, Global Spokesperson for the United Nations Refugee Agency, said on X. “Each one of these horrific incidents at sea is a stark reminder of the deadly cost of complacency and inaction. Safer alternatives are urgently needed.”

‘Urgent action is needed to prevent further tragedies’

“We are deeply troubled by news of a shipwreck in the Central Med. #OceanViking reported to have rescued 25 people who left Zawya, Libya a week ago with approximately 60 more still missing,” the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on X. “Urgent action is needed to strengthen maritime patrols and prevent further tragedies.”