53 Dead or Missing as Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Libya, Only 2 Survivors Found
February 9, 2026
The UN migration agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), reported that 53 people are dead or missing after a migrant boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya. Only two survivors were rescued. The boat overturned north of Zuwara on Friday. "Only two Nigerian women were rescued during a search and rescue operation by Libyan authorities," the IOM said. One survivor said she lost her husband, and the other said she had "lost her two babies in the tragedy." The two survivors received emergency medical care from IOM teams. According to survivor accounts, the boat carried migrants and refugees from African countries. It left Al-Zawiya, Libya, at about 11 PM on 5 February. About six hours later, it capsized after taking on water. The IOM mourns the loss of life in this deadly incident along the central Mediterranean route. The Geneva-based agency highlighted that trafficking and smuggling networks exploit migrants on this dangerous path from North Africa to Europe. These networks profit by using unsafe boats and exposing people to "severe abuse." The IOM called for stronger international cooperation to fight these networks. It also urged the creation of safe and legal migration routes to reduce risks and save lives.
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Tags:
Mediterranean Sea
Libya
Boat Capsizing
Migrant Tragedy
International Organization For Migration
Smuggling Networks
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