(MENAFN) At least 42 migrants are feared to have perished after a rubber boat overturned off the Libyan coast earlier this month, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which released a report on Wednesday.

The vessel had left the western port city of Zuwara on November 3, carrying 47 men and two women.

Around six hours into their journey, “high waves caused the engine to fail, capsizing the boat and throwing all passengers overboard,” stated the UN agency.

Libyan authorities subsequently initiated a search and rescue mission near the Al Buri Oil Field later that week.

Among the 42 individuals still missing and now presumed dead were 29 Sudanese, eight Somalis, three Cameroonians, and two Nigerians. Only seven passengers survived, having drifted at sea for six days.

The survivors included four Sudanese, two Nigerians, and one Cameroonian. “IOM’s team provided the survivors with emergency medical care, water, and food upon arrival at the disembarkation point in coordination with relevant authorities,” the agency added.

Many on board were fleeing prolonged violence and instability in their home countries. Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating war since April 2023, displacing millions, while Somalia continues to face armed conflict, terrorist attacks by the Al-Shabaab group, and ongoing insecurity.

The IOM’s Missing Migrants Project reports that over 1,000 individuals have died along the Central Mediterranean route since the start of 2025.

The UN migration agency highlights that Libya, a crucial transit hub for migrants escaping conflict and poverty across Africa and the Middle East, remains one of the most perilous departure points for those attempting to reach Europe by sea.

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