At least 18 Egyptian irregular migrants have died and around 50 others remain missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Tobruk in eastern Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Thursday.

According to IOM, ten survivors have been rescued so far, while search and rescue operations continue amid fears the death toll could rise.

Earlier, the General Directorate of Coastal Security in Tobruk said 15 bodies had been recovered following the incident. Authorities initially believed the victims included migrants from both Egypt and Sudan, though updated reports suggest all were Egyptian.