Red Crescent reports 40 bodies washed up

October 27, 2015 7:54 AM

At least 3,175 migrants and refugees have died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea this year, the vast majority on the route from Libya towards Italy, according to IOM data.

Libyan Red Crescent workers carry the body of one of the migrants who died after a boat sank off the coastal town of Khoms area east of Tripoli, Libya October 25, 2015. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny

The Libyan Red Crescent reported 40 bodies were found on its coastline near the ports of Zlit and Khoms, according to a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration who said on Monday they may be victims of a week-old shipwreck.

At least 3,175 migrants and refugees have died trying to cross the MediterraneanSea this year, the vast majority on the route from Libya towards Italy, according to IOM data.

IOM spokesman Joel Millman said he did not have any information on when the people had died.