Seven illegal migrants were found dead in a refrigerated truck which was left abandoned on the shores of Qarabulli town, around 65km east of Tripoli.
Libyan authorities found the truck with thirty four African migrants held inside, seven of whom appeared to have died of suffocation.
“We sent over people to investigate and found a truck with 34 migrants inside who were moved to the anti-illegal immigration division’s Tripoli branch and were provided with first aid, but unfortunately, seven of them were found dead, but the remaining 28 were given first aid and thank god they are in good health,” a police officer told Reuters news agency.
According to the migrants, smugglers packed them into the back of the truck to transport them to a boat which they would use to cross the Mediterranean.
The migrants said the truck driver left the vehicle on the side of the road after unknown gunmen began firing at the tyres.
They were locked inside the truck for two days before officers found them early Sunday morning.
Reuters
