A patrol for the Libyan Coast Guard has saved 185 illegal migrants onboard a big dinghy off northern Sabratha shores.

“They were rescued at dawn about 5 miles off the shore.” The spokesman of the Libyan Navy, Ayoub Qassim remarked.

He explained that a third of the migrants were women and there were several children as well, pointing out that they were from different African countries.

“Human traffickers have started using big dinghies to accommodate more migrants and because they are relatively stronger in the water.” Qassim explained, saying those inflatable boats are unseaworthy in terms of equipment or safety.

“That is why the dinghies pose a life threat to the immigrants especially if the sea was “angry” with high waves and beating winds coupled with panic-driven movements by the migrants onboard.” The Navy official added.

He said that the Libyan coastguards drove the boat to the Al-Zawiya refinery and after providing the migrants with the necessary assistance, they were sent to the Al-Zawiya Illegal Immigration Fight Authority’s shelter center.

Likewise, Al-Zawiya coastguards rescued Saturday a number of illegal migrants aboard a dinghy, thus making the number of immigrants rescued off the Libyan coast reach 305 in three days.