Geneva — The United Nations Migration Agency reported on Monday that 53 lives had tragically ended or were still missing following a boat capsizing in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya’s coast. Only two survivors, both Nigerian women, made it to safety after a search-and-rescue operation by Libyan authorities.
According to an IOM statement issued from Geneva, the accident occurred on Friday around noon local time north of Zuwara, Libya. The city is approximately 180 miles northwest of Italy’s Lampedusa Island, where many migrants seek passage across the Mediterranean towards Europe.
Among the two survivors was a woman who recounted losing her husband in the incident. Another survivor claimed she had also lost her two babies. Both individuals were provided with emergency medical care by IOM teams upon their arrival at shore.
The statement detailed that the boat carrying African migrants and refugees left from Al-Zawiya, Libya, around midnight on February 5th. Six hours later, it capsized after taking in water. According to survivors’ accounts, the vessel departed north of Zuwara with a mixed crew including those fleeing conflict zones in Africa.
“Severe abuse” was highlighted as migrants were exploited by trafficking and smuggling networks operating along the dangerous Central Mediterranean route from North Africa toward Europe. These groups profit from people boarding unseaworthy vessels, exposing them to high risks and severe harm.
The IOM called for stronger international collaboration to dismantle these exploitative networks and promote safer migration pathways that could mitigate risks while saving lives.
In January alone, at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing following similar boat wrecks in the Central Mediterranean. These repeated incidents underscored the deadly risks faced by migrants attempting such perilous journeys. Over 1,300 individuals had disappeared into the sea in the Central Mediterranean in 2025, and as of Monday’s report, the total tally stood at least 484.
The United Nations Migration Agency emphasized that such incidents have become all too familiar, with traffickers and smugglers increasingly taking advantage of desperate migrants seeking to cross into Europe.