11 decomposed migrant bodies found off Libya, aid group says

Bodies of 11 migrants in an advanced state of decomposition were spotted off the coast of Libya during an aerial surveillance operation, the Italian Coast Guard said. The remains were located about 57 nautical miles offshore from the coastal city of Zuwara, the agency reported. SOS Méditerranée, which operates the surveillance aircraft jointly with the Pilotes Volontaires initiative, said some of the bodies were clothed while others were floating with the help of inner tubes. The organization described the scene as "horrific" and blamed European policies based on indifference and deterrence for the deaths. The International Organization for Migration said 821 people died or went missing in the central Mediterranean in the first four months of 2026, an increase of 111% from the same period in 2025. The number of migrants using the route fell 46% over the same period to 8,577, according to the same data. Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, reported that irregular crossings into the European Union totaled about 178,000 in the first four months of 2026, down 26% from the same period a year earlier.