The Foreign Office (FO) confirmed on Tuesday that the bodies of 16 Pakistanis have been recovered following a tragic boat accident off the coast of Libya. Reports indicate that as many as 63 Pakistanis were aboard the vessel when it capsized.
This disaster follows a similar incident last month near Morocco, where a boat carrying 80 people sank. In that case, at least 13 Pakistanis were confirmed dead, while over 40 others were allegedly killed by African human traffickers. Only 22 passengers survived.
In a statement, the FO revealed that a team from the Pakistani Embassy in Tripoli visited Zawiya city to gather information. They met with local authorities and hospital officials in Zawiya to assess the situation.
“According to unverified reports, 63 Pakistanis were on board the boat. So far, 16 bodies have been recovered and identified as Pakistani nationals through their passports.
There are 37 survivors, including one hospitalized individual and 33 in police custody. Additionally, around 10 Pakistanis remain missing. Three of the survivors are in Tripoli, receiving assistance from the embassy,” the statement detailed.
The FO also shared a list containing the names of the deceased individuals whose bodies have been recovered.
“The Embassy in Tripoli continues to gather more details and remains in contact with local authorities,” the statement added.
Earlier, the FO announced that a ‘Crisis Management Unit’ had been activated to monitor the evolving situation.
Families seeking information about their loved ones have been advised to contact the Pakistani Embassy in Libya through these numbers: 03052185882, +218913870577, and +218916425435 (WhatsApp). The Crisis Management Unit at the ministry can also be reached at 051-9207887.
