At least 18 people died in a Libya migrant boat tragedy after a wooden vessel capsized near Surman’s coast on Tuesday. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said strong waves caused the boat to overturn only hours after leaving shore.
According to the IOM, 64 migrants survived the disaster. Among them were 12 Pakistanis, 29 Sudanese men, one Sudanese woman, one Sudanese child, 18 Bangladeshis, and three Somalis. Authorities are still confirming the nationalities of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
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This incident highlights the extreme dangers faced by migrants crossing the central Mediterranean in search of safety and better lives. The IOM noted that this route from North Africa to Europe remains among the deadliest migration corridors worldwide.
The agency said over 1,000 migrants have died or gone missing this year along the same route, including more than 500 off Libya’s coast. The latest tragedy follows another shipwreck last week near Tunisia that claimed 40 lives.
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The IOM said it is providing survivors with medical care and basic needs. It urged international cooperation to prevent more Libya migrant boat tragedy incidents and ensure safer migration routes for vulnerable people.