Originally published on 28 August, 2015

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Hundreds are feared dead after a couple of Italy-bound boats packed with predominantly African migrants sank off the coast of Libya on Wednesday and Thursday.

Just off the coast of Libya, a boat carrying almost 500 migrants capsized on Wednesday. A Swedish ship found the bodies of 52 migrants in the hull.

Another two boats sank on Thursday, one kilometre from their port of origin in Zuwara, Libya. The first boat, which capsized early Thursday morning, was carrying about 100 people.

The other was carrying about 400 migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, Syria, Pakistan, Morocco and Bangladesh.

While the Libyan coast guard has saved around 201 of the 400 migrants, about 40 bodies were found trapped in the hold of one of the ships and dozens more were discovered floating near the capsized vessel.

With at least 2,300 deaths, the number of migrants dying while making the perilous journey to Europe this year may exceed last year’s total of 3,279, says the International Organization for Migration.

Officials have yet to confirm the exact number of deaths in Thursday’s incidents, but estimate that some 200 people lost their lives, reports Reuters. According to the Guardian, once this week’s death toll is confirmed, it will bring the total deaths this year to more than 2,500.

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