Tragedy Strikes as Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Libya
The vessel had departed Al-Zawiya around 11:00 p.m. on February 5 and sank roughly six hours later north of Zuwara, with survivor testimonies providing key details of the incident.
Only two Nigerian women survived the disaster and were rescued during a search-and-recovery operation conducted by local authorities. One survivor reported losing her husband, while the other revealed she had lost two infants in the capsizing.
“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 has emerged as a central hub for migrants from Africa and the Middle East attempting to reach Europe through the Central Mediterranean—a route notorious for its dangers. Overcrowded and unsafe vessels frequently capsize or sink before reaching European shores.
So far in 2026, at least 484 migrants have either died or gone missing along this route. In January alone, at least 375 people were reported dead or missing after multiple shipwrecks caused by severe weather. The actual toll is believed to be higher, as many cases go unrecorded.
During the first week of February, 244 migrants were intercepted at sea and returned to Libya. Last year, over 1,300 migrants vanished while more than 27,000 were intercepted and sent back to Libya along the Central Mediterranean corridor.
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