TRIPOLI: At least 50 migrants, mostly from Sudan, died when a boat caught fire off the coast of Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The tragic incident occurred on Sunday, but was confirmed on Tuesday by the IOM in a report published by Reuters.
The boat was carrying 75 migrants when it caught fire near the Libyan coast. Only 24 survivors were rescued and provided with emergency medical care. The IOM did not specify the exact cause of the fire, but migrant journeys across the Mediterranean are often marked by poor safety standards and overcrowded vessels.
Libya has become a key departure point for migrants seeking to reach Europe, especially since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi. The resulting instability turned Libya into a transit hub for people fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa and beyond.
As of February 2025, the IOM estimated that over 860,000 migrants from 44 nationalities were residing in Libya, many of them living in vulnerable conditions and at risk of trafficking or exploitation. Migrant crossings have surged in recent years despite growing dangers.
This incident follows another deadly boat tragedy earlier this month in Nigeria, where at least 60 people died after a vessel capsized in Niger State. That boat, carrying over 100 passengers, struck a submerged tree and overturned. Both incidents highlight the grave risks migrants and rural travelers face in their search for better opportunities or even basic survival.