Libya migrant boat capsizes off Zuwara, 53 people dead or missing

Fifty-three people are dead or missing after a migrant boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya, the UN migration agency said. Only two survivors were rescued, both Nigerian women, after a search and rescue operation by Libyan authorities.

The International Organization for Migration said the latest disaster highlights the extreme risks of the central Mediterranean route, one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors.

What we know about the shipwreck

The IOM said the boat overturned north of Zuwara on Friday. Survivors told the agency the vessel departed from Al-Zawiya at about 11pm on 5 February.

Around six hours into the journey, the boat began taking on water and capsized. The IOM said its teams provided the two survivors with emergency medical care after they disembarked.

Two survivors and families left behind

The agency said one of the women reported losing her husband. The other said she lost her two babies.

The details underline the human cost of these crossings, which often involve families and people fleeing conflict or hardship.

Smugglers blamed for dangerous crossings

The IOM said trafficking and smuggling networks continue to exploit migrants and refugees along the route from north Africa to southern Europe.

It said these groups profit from unseaworthy boats and expose people to severe abuse. The agency called for stronger international cooperation to tackle criminal networks, alongside safe and regular pathways to reduce risks and save lives.

Brussels calls for joint action

A European Commission spokesperson said the deaths underlined the need to intensify efforts with partners, including Libya, to prevent dangerous journeys.

They also stressed the need to combat migrant smuggling networks that put lives at risk, while addressing the root causes of irregular migration and promoting legal, safe and orderly routes.

A grim record across the Mediterranean

The IOM said it fears hundreds of people have died since the start of the year while attempting Mediterranean crossings, amid harsh weather conditions.

Between the start of 2014 and the end of 2025, more than 33,000 migrants died or went missing in the Mediterranean, according to the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project. In 2025, the project recorded 1,873 people dead or missing in the Mediterranean, including 1,342 on the central route.

This shipwreck adds to a growing toll at sea, as agencies warn that without safer routes and stronger action against smugglers, more lives will be lost.