Rome, 17 August 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Sea rescue organizations on Monday reported deaths of migrants in the central Mediterranean.

Italian organization Emergency found seven bodies on an overcrowded boat and rescued a further 57. It reported that two of those rescued were in critical condition.

The migrants are reported to have left from the Libyan coastal town of Zuwara in a wooden boat. Emergency called for an urgent medical evacuation for the two people in critical condition.

According to Emergency, the operation took place in international waters but within the Libyan search-and-rescue zone, for which Libya is responsible. There was initially no statement from the Libyan authorities.

In a separate incident, the German organization Sea-Watch reported finding three bodies in the Mediterranean. A Sea-Watch reconnaissance aircraft and the organization ResQship discovered the lifeless bodies in the water over the weekend.

European rescue organization SOS Méditerranée reported finding 11 bodies in the water off the Libyan coast on Friday. The bodies could not be recovered.

The central Mediterranean remains the deadliest migration route to Europe. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 872 people have died or remain missing in the waters there so far this year.