Rescue teams recovered five decomposed bodies 550 kilometers south of Tobruk in the Great Sand Sea.
Authorities transported the remains to Tobruk, calling the incident part of the deadly “death journey.”
Abreen, a local aid group, identified the victims as likely Sudanese and shared images from the operation.
Migrants Face Deadly Journeys
Migrants flee war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East, traveling overland or by sea through Libya.
Drowning incidents near the coast occur often; 61 migrants died off Zuwara in December.
In May, seven Sudanese migrants died after their vehicle broke down in the desert for 11 days.
Europe Confronts Rising Migration
The IOM estimates 787,000 migrants and refugees lived in Libya in 2024.
The UNHCR reported 32,400 people crossed from Libya to Europe in 2021, more than double 2020 totals.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed adding 30,000 Frontex staff to secure Europe’s external borders.
