TRIPOLI, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 migrants have drowned after their boat sank off western Libyan coast, Libyan navy spokesman told Xinhua on Thursday.
Ayob Qasem said the migrants drowned off Zuwara coast, some 120 km west of the capital Tripoli, while trying to cross towards Europe.
"Zuwara coast guards managed to rescue only seven migrants on a wooden boat 20 km off the coast," Qasem said.
He also said that Libyan navy rescued more than 3,000 migrants of different nationalities by 12 operations off Libyan coast in the past 10 days.
Most of the rescue operations were done in western Libya.
Thousands of migrants drown in the Mediterranean while attempting to cross from Libya towards Europe. Smugglers take advantage of the insecurity and chaos in the North African country to send migrants in rickety boats, many of whom drown on the way.
Those rescued by the Libyan navy are taken to reception centers with poor living conditions.
