At least 42 migrants, including Nigerian nationals, are feared dead after a rubber boat capsized off the coast of Libya, near the Al Buri Oil Field, according to a statement by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) released on Wednesday.
The ill-fated vessel, which departed from Zuwara on November 3, was carrying 49 people — 47 men and 2 women — when it suffered engine failure after being struck by high waves, causing all passengers to be thrown overboard.
Only Seven Survivors Rescued After Six Days at Sea
According to IOM, a Libyan search and rescue operation conducted on November 8 managed to save only seven survivors after they drifted at sea for six days.
Those rescued include four Sudanese, two Nigerians, and one Cameroonian.
“Tragically, 42 individuals remain missing and are presumed dead, including 29 from Sudan, eight from Somalia, three from Cameroon, and two from Nigeria,” IOM said in its statement.
The organisation confirmed that its emergency response team provided the survivors with medical assistance, water, and food upon their rescue, working closely with Libyan authorities.
IOM Decries Rising Deaths Along Central Mediterranean Route
The IOM expressed deep sorrow over what it described as “yet another preventable tragedy” in the Central Mediterranean, one of the world’s deadliest migration routes.
The organisation warned that the incident highlights the continued dangers faced by migrants and refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean in search of safety and better living conditions.
“According to the latest data from IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, the death toll in the Central Mediterranean has already surpassed 1,000 this year,” the statement noted.
“With this latest shipwreck, the total has risen even further, reinforcing the urgent need for stronger regional cooperation, expanded safe and legal migration pathways, and more effective search and rescue operations.”
A Growing Pattern of Tragedies
This latest disaster follows a string of similar deadly incidents off Surman and Lampedusa in recent weeks. Humanitarian groups have repeatedly called for coordinated action from African and European governments to address the root causes of irregular migration — including poverty, conflict, and political instability.
The Libya migrant boat tragedy once again underscores the vulnerability of migrants and the need for international support to prevent further loss of life.
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