TRIPOLI: At least 50 Sudanese refugees have died off the coast of eastern Libya after their boat caught fire, an International Organization for Migration spokesperson told AFP Wednesday.

`The tragic incident took place when a rubber boat carrying 75 Sudanese refugees caught fire off the coast of Tobruk, Libya, while en route to Greece,` the spokesperson said. `At least 50 lives were lost.` The IOM said in a post on X the shipwreck occurred Sunday.

The spokesperson did not provide details ofthe ages orgenderofthose on board the boat. `lOM provided immediate lifesaving medical care to the 24 survivors,` the spokesperson added without clarifying if one last person was still missing.

Libya is a key transit country for thousands of migrants seeking to reach Europe by sea each year.

At least 456 people died and 420 were missing along the Mediterranean route between January 1 and September 13.AFP