At least 7 Sudanese migrants found dead after being stranded in Libyan desert
CAIRO (AP) — At least seven Sudanese migrants were found dead on Friday after their vehicle broke down and left them stranded for days deep in the Libyan desert, according to an ambulance service official.
The car was carrying 34 Sudanese when it broke down some after crossing Libya's border from Chad and onto a deserted path often used by smugglers, Ebrahim Belhassan, a representative of the Kufra Ambulance and Emergency Services, told The Associated Press.
They were discovered in the sand dunes after 11 days, having run out of food and water, he said.
'The survivors were almost about to die. They are severely dehydrated and exhibiting signs of distress and trauma with such circumstances and given that they're seeing those around them dying and they know if they will die next,' he said. The 22 rescued, including five children, were transferred to Kufra for further medical checkups.
Five people are missing, but Belhassan said hopes were slim they would survive on foot in a vast desert.
A smuggler who found them alerted emergency crews, Belhassan said.
Libya, which shares borders with six nations and has a long coastline along the Mediterranean, is a main transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East to seek better lives in Europe. The International Organization for Migration estimates around 787,000 migrants and refugees from various nationalities lived in Libya as of 2024.
During last year, the Kufra ambulance service responded to emergencies involving more than 260 Sudanese migrants found in the desert, Belhassan said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Florida AG James Uthmeier proposed 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention center. Here's the video
Claim: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier proposed the creation of a detention center for migrants called "Alligator Alcatraz." Rating: Posts that circulated on social media in June 2025 claimed that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier proposed the creation of an ICE detention center in the Everglades to be called "Alligator Alcatraz." For example, on June 19, 2025, a TikTok user shared a video (archived) with overlaid text that read: "BREAKING: FLORIDA PROPOSES CREATING AN ICE DETENTION CENTER CALLED THE ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ, A PRISON IN THE EVERGLADES." In the video, the TikTok user said, in part: The Florida attorney general is proposing the creation of the "Alligator Alcatraz" to assist with deportation efforts. Yes, the "Alligator Alcatraz," which is a new prison facility that they would build in the Everglades — miles away from any nearest airport — that would be surrounded by literally the alligators and the pythons in Alligator Alley in the Everglades. Similar claims made the rounds on X (archived) and Facebook (archived). (Courtesy of Donald Trump for President on Facebook) Snopes readers also searched our website for information about the "Alligator Alcatraz" proposal. It is true that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier proposed a detention center for migrants called "Alligator Alcatraz." He posted a video detailing plans for such a facility on his verified X (archived) and Facebook (archived) accounts on June 19, 2025, and previously discussed the proposal during a segment (archived) with "Fox Business." On June 19, 2025, Uthmeier shared (archived) a 1-minute, 6-second video detailing the proposal captioned, "Alligator Alcatraz: the one-stop shop to carry out U.S. President Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda." In the video, he said: Attorney General James Uthmeier here at the Miami Dade-Collier training facility. This is an old, virtually abandoned airport facility right in the middle of the Everglades. Florida has been leading on immigration enforcement, supporting the Trump administration and ICE's efforts to detain and deport criminal aliens. The governor tasked state leaders to identify places for new temporary detention facilities. I think this is the best one, as I call it, Alligator Alcatraz. This 30-square-mile area is completely surrounded by the Everglades [and] present a efficient, low cost opportunity to build a temporary detention facility because you don't need to invest that much in the perimeter. People get out, there's not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons. Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. Within just 30 to 60 days after we begin construction, it could be up and running and could house as many as 1,000 criminal aliens. This presents a great opportunity for the state of Florida to work with Miami, Dade and Collier counties. Alligator Alcatraz, we're ready to go. His posts came after a Fox Business segment (archived) about the proposal aired on June 17, 2025. Uthmeier reportedly told Fox Business the "potential site would serve as a three-in-one immigration enforcement facility," housing detainees, processing legal cases and serving as a "deportation hub." "If somebody were to get out, there's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide — only the alligators and pythons are waiting. That's why I like to call it Alligator Alcatraz," Uthmeier said in an interview with Fox Business. On June 20, 2025, Florida's Republican Party expressed its support for Uthmeier's proposal in a post (archived) on X: But state leaders weren't the only ones who weighed in — even the federal government amplified Uthmeier's post. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reshared (archived) it on June 19: Snopes asked Uthmeier's office if he had discussed a plan for such a detention center with the federal government and whether such a facility is currently in the works. We will update this story if we receive a response. We also asked DHS if it has any plans to partner with the state of Florida on such a proposal. We await a response. In its post about the proposed facility, DHS mentioned "287g authority," likely referring to a program named for Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 287(g) authorizes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to "delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration functions under the agency's direction and oversight," ICE says on its website. Florida is one of many U.S. states that has at least one 287(g) agreement in place, a map on ICE's website shows. In some states, such as California, Washington and Oregon, state law or policy prohibits such agreements. (Courtesy of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) State and local law enforcement officers who are deputized to perform certain functions of federal immigration agents are generally allowed to interview people to determine their immigration status, issue immigration detainers to hold people until ICE takes custody, issue an official charging document that begins the removal process, and transfer noncitizens into ICE custody, among other duties, the nonprofit American Immigration Council explains. For further reading, Snopes recently investigated claims that ICE is removing undocumented foster children from their foster homes for deportation. X (Formerly Twitter), 19 June 2025, Accessed 20 June 2025. 19 June 2025, Accessed 20 June 2025. Fox Business. "Florida Officials Want to Turn a Piece of the Everglades into the State's Largest Immigration Facility." Fox Business, 17 June 2025, Accessed 20 June 2025. X (Formerly Twitter), 20 June 2025, Accessed 20 June 2025. X (Formerly Twitter), 19 June 2025, Accessed 20 June 2025. "The 287(G) Program: An Overview." American Immigration Council, 8 July 2021, Accessed 20 June 2025. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "Delegation of Immigration Authority Section 287(G) Immigration and Nationality Act." Accessed 20 June 2025.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Associated Press
Greek coast guard says over 600 migrants rescued from 2 fishing boats
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — More than 600 migrants were rescued overnight and early Friday from two wooden fishing boats found sailing miles (kilometers) from the southernmost part of Greece, the country's coast guard said. The first fishing boat, carrying 352 people, was spotted overnight about 30 nautical miles (35 miles, 55 kilometers) south of the tiny island of Gavdos, the coast guard said. Passengers were rescued by a ship from the European border patrol agency FRONTEX, aided by a coast guard patrol boat and four other vessels. The second was found 50 nautical miles (about 60 miles, 90 kilometers) south of the island of Crete with 278 people on board. The passengers were picked up by a passing Portuguese-flagged cargo ship. In both cases, the migrants were transported to Crete. There was no immediate information on the nationalities of those on board the two fishing boats. Another two boats carrying migrants were located in the same area on Thursday, the coast guard said. One, carrying 73 men, was found south of Gavdos and another with 26 people, including one woman and three minors, was found near the coast of southern Crete. The coast guard said those on the smaller boat told authorities they had set sail the previous evening from Tobruk in Libya, and had each paid smugglers either 4,000 euros ($5,500) for their passage to Greece. Two Sudanese teenagers, one aged 16 and the other 19, were arrested on suspicion of migrant smuggling after other passengers identified them as having been operating the boat. Greece has been on one of the preferred routes into the European Union for people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia for decades. Arrivals from neighboring Turkey to the east and the Libyan coast to the south spiked last year, with Greece recording more than 60,000 people arriving — the vast majority by sea — in 2024, compared to just over 48,000 the previous year, according to figures from the U.N. refugee agency. As of June 15 this year, a total of 16,290 arrivals were recorded, with more than 14,600 of those by sea. With authorities closely patrolling the eastern sea border with Turkey to prevent migrant boats reaching nearby Greek islands, smugglers appear to be increasingly opting for the much longer and riskier Mediterranean Sea crossing from the north African coast to the southern tip of Greece, using larger boats into which they can cram more people. ___ Follow AP's coverage of migration issues at
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Fire tears through Edinburgh flat as residents evacuated and street sealed off
Edinburgh emergency services rushed to a residential area in the north west of the capital as a blaze tore through a flat. Police, the ambulance service and at least 25 firefighters responded to the incident at a block of flats on Gunnet Court, Muirhouse. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received the call shortly before 11pm on Thursday night, June 19, and mobilised five pump appliances and a height vehicle. READ MORE: Edinburgh locals praise 'lovely' Andy Murray after spotting him at shopping centre READ MORE: Australian 'fiasco' ferry leaves Edinburgh after months docked in the capital Terrifying images from the scene show a firefighter battling orange flames coming from a 3rd floor flat as black smoke can be seen billowing from the building. The height vehicle was used to extinguish the blaze as the firefighter could be seen spraying water into the flat while being elevated by the appliance while the whole apartment was engulfed in flames. The area, including Muirhouse View, was taped off by emergency services as several police cars could also be seen. It is understood residents were evacuated as a group of people could be seen standing behind a cordon watching on. The SFRS confirmed hero firefighters battled the blaze for three hours as they left at around 2am on Friday, June 20. A spokesperson said: "We received reports of a fire at a flat on Gunnet Court, at Muirhouse View, at 22.50 hours on Thursday, June 20. We mobilised five appliances and a height vehicle. "The fire on a third floor flat was extinguished and the last appliances left the scene at 2am. Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service were also in attendance." It is currently not known if there were any casualties. The Scottish Ambulance Service was approached for comment. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages
