Fifty-three migrants, including two babies, are dead or missing after a rubber boat carrying 55 people capsized off the coast of Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Spokesperson said on Monday.
The vessel overturned north of Zuwara, Libya, on 6 February. Only two Nigerian women were rescued during a search-and-rescue operation by Libyan authorities. One survivor reported losing her husband, while the other said she lost her two babies in the tragedy.
IOM mourns the loss of life in yet another deadly incident along the Central Mediterranean route. IOM teams provided the two survivors with emergency medical care upon disembarkation, in coordination with relevant authorities.
According to survivor accounts, the boat - carrying migrants and refugees of African nationalities departed from Al-Zawiya, Libya, at around 11:00 p.m. on 5 February. Approximately six hours later, it capsized after taking on water.
IOM data show that in January alone, at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing following multiple "invisible" shipwrecks in the Central Mediterranean amid extreme weather, with hundreds more deaths believed to be unrecorded. These repeated incidents underscore the persistent and deadly risks faced by migrants and refugees attempting the dangerous crossing.
According to IOM's Missing Migrants Project, more than 1,300 migrants have gone missing in the Central Mediterranean in 2025. The latest incident brings the number of migrants reported dead or missing on the route in 2026 to at least 484.
IOM warns that trafficking and smuggling networks continue to exploit migrants along the Central Mediterranean route, profiting from dangerous crossings in unseaworthy boats while exposing people to severe abuse and protection risks.
IOM stresses the need for stronger international cooperation and protection-centered responses to address smuggling and trafficking networks, alongside safe and regular migration pathways to reduce risks and save lives.
