At least 17 bodies believed to be those of Europe-bound migrants have washed ashore in western Libya.

The victims are believed to have drowned after their boat overturned, an official of Libyan Red Crescent said.

The bodies were found on Tuesday, October 5, near the western Libyan town of Zawiya and have been handed over to authorities for burial.

The Red Crescent posted images on Facebook that show its workers carrying white body bags with the Mediterranean Sea in the background.

The UN migration agency IOM says more than 1,100 migrants were reported dead or presumed dead in numerous boat mishaps and shipwrecks off Libya so far this year.