Over Fifty Feared Dead After Migrant Boat Sinks Near Libyan Coast

(MENAFN) More than fifty migrants are believed to have died or gone missing after an overcrowded inflatable boat overturned off Libya’s shoreline, according to a statement released Monday by a UN-affiliated agency.

The vessel, carrying 55 people, reportedly left the city of Al-Zawiya around 11:00pm on February 5. Roughly six hours into the journey, it capsized north of Zuwara, based on accounts provided by survivors.

Only two individuals — both Nigerian women — were rescued during a search-and-recovery operation conducted by Libyan authorities, the agency reported. One of the survivors said her husband perished in the disaster, while the other recounted losing her two infants.

“These tragedies are preventable. Urgent action is needed to protect lives and ensure safe, regular pathways on the Central Mediterranean route,” the agency stated on X.

Libya continues to serve as a key departure point for migrants from Africa and the Middle East attempting to reach Europe through the Central Mediterranean corridor. This passage is widely regarded as one of the deadliest migration routes due to overcrowded and unseaworthy boats, many of which sink or overturn before reaching European territory.

Data released by the agency indicate that at least 484 migrants have been reported dead or missing along the Central Mediterranean route since the beginning of 2026. Of those, at least 375 were recorded in January alone following multiple shipwrecks that occurred during harsh weather conditions. Officials cautioned that the actual toll is likely significantly higher, as many incidents go undocumented.

In the first week of February, authorities intercepted 244 migrants at sea and returned them to Libya.

According to UN figures, more than 1,314 migrants were reported missing in the Central Mediterranean in 2025, while 27,116 were intercepted and sent back to Libya during the same year.

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