At least 53 migrants are dead or missing after a rubber boat carrying 55 people capsized off the coast of Libya while attempting the perilous central Mediterranean Sea crossing toward Europe, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on February 9, 2026.
The vessel overturned north of the coastal town of Zuwara late on February 5, after departing from Al-Zawiya in northwestern Libya. Only two Nigerian women survived and were rescued by Libyan authorities, with one survivor reporting the loss of her husband and the other saying both her children died in the tragedy.
The passengers on board were migrants and refugees from various African countries, according to accounts collected by the IOM. Many of those attempting the crossing are fleeing conflict, poverty, or instability in their home countries and rely on smugglers who often use unsafe, overcrowded vessels for the voyage.
The central Mediterranean route particularly the stretch between North Africa and southern Europe is one of the world’s deadliest migration pathways. In January 2026 alone, at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing in similar incidents, and the latest tragedy has brought the total for the year to at least 484 along this route.
Humanitarian organizations and UN agencies have repeatedly warned that irregular migration in the Mediterranean continues to pose grave risks to human life. They are calling for stronger international cooperation, more search-and-rescue capacity, and the creation of safe, legal pathways for people seeking refuge or better opportunities abroad.