At least 42 migrants are missing and presumed dead after a rubber boat capsized off Libya’s coast, the IOM said. Libyan authorities rescued seven survivors who had drifted at sea for six days. The vessel, carrying 49 people, sank near the Al Buri offshore oilfield north-northwest of the Libyan coast.
The International Organization for Migration said the migrants came from Sudan, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Somalia. Libya has been a key transit route for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty toward Europe. Since 2011, after Gaddafi’s fall, thousands have risked crossing the Mediterranean, often facing deadly conditions.
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The IOM said more than 1,000 migrants have drowned in the central Mediterranean this year alone. This latest incident increases the toll, reflecting the ongoing dangers along the migration route. Across the entire Mediterranean, 2,452 deaths were recorded in 2024, showing the persistent risk faced by migrants.
Recent events highlight repeated tragedies in the region. In mid-October, 61 bodies washed ashore near Tripoli, and in September, 50 Sudanese refugees died after a vessel fire off Libya’s coast. These incidents underscore the deadly risks migrants face while attempting the crossing.
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Several countries, including Britain, Spain, Norway, and Sierra Leone, urged Libya to close detention centres where migrants face abuse and torture. The IOM said the tragedy emphasizes the urgent need for international cooperation to protect migrants and refugees.