At least 90 feared dead after boat capsizes off Libya

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At least 90 migrants are believed to have died when their boat capsized off the coast of Libya early on Friday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

The bodies of two Libyans and eight Pakistanis washed up on shore, according to an IOM statement.

There are three confirmed survivors so far.

"They have given an estimate of 90 who drowned during the capsize, but we still have to verify the exact number of people who lost their lives during the tragedy," IOM spokeswoman Olivia Headon was quoted by Reuters as saying at a Geneva news briefing.

The IOM did not give further details about the incident but aid workers were told by survivors that most of the migrants were Pakistanis heading to Italy from North Africa.

Libya is the main gateway for migrants trying to cross to Europe by sea, though numbers have dropped sharply since July as Libyan factions and authorities – under pressure from Italy and the European Union – have begun to block departures.

More than 600,000 people are believed to have made the journey from Libya to Italy over the past four years.

(With input from Reuters)

(Head photo via IOM)