Tragic Boat Sinking in Libya: Only 2 Women Rescued, 53 Feared Dead

Tripoli: At least 53 people, including two children, are feared dead or missing after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Libya. The vessel, carrying 55 African migrants, had departed from the western Libyan city of Al-Jawiya on Thursday night and overturned near the city of Zuwara on Friday morning. Migrants often use this route from Africa to Europe in search of a better life, but the journey is notoriously perilous.

Only Two Women Survived
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Monday that out of the 55 people on board, only two women of Nigerian origin were rescued. One of the survivors told IOM that she lost her husband in the accident, while the other said she lost her two children. The vessel had set off late on February 5, and six hours into the journey, water started entering the boat, causing it to capsize. IOM teams provided the rescued women with emergency medical assistance.

Central Mediterranean Route Remains Deadly
The Central Mediterranean Sea route is considered one of the most dangerous migrant routes. With this tragedy, the death toll in 2026 has risen to 484. IOM has warned that trafficking networks continue to exploit migrants using unsafe vessels and has urged international organizations to address this critical issue.

Repeated Incidents on the Same Route
This is not the first such tragedy in the area. In November last year, a rubber boat carrying 49 migrants capsized off Libya’s coast, leaving 42 dead. A rescue operation was launched near the Al-Bouri oil field, but only seven people survived after six days at sea.

According to IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, over 1,000 migrants and refugees lost their lives in the Central Mediterranean in 2025 alone. The Libyan Ministry of Defense, under the UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU), has announced targeting several boats used for illegal human trafficking in northwestern Libya.