Rubber Boat Capsizes Off Libya, 53 Migrants Feared Dead

By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent 

FIFTY-THREE migrants are feared dead after a rubber boat carrying 55 people capsized off the coast of Libya, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said.

JKNewsMedia.com reports that only two Nigerian women were rescued during a search-and-rescue operation by Libyan authorities, according to the IOM statement.

One survivor reported losing her husband, while the other said she lost two babies in the tragedy, the statement reads.  

Also, the IOM said its teams provided the survivors with emergency medical care upon disembarkation in coordination with relevant authorities while mourning the loss of lives along the Central Mediterranean route.

The survivor recounted that the boat, carrying migrants and refugees of various African nationalities, departed Al-Zawiya, Libya, at about 11.00pm on February 5 but capsized six hours later after taking on water, IOM said.

Nigerians are among migrants who frequently use the Central Mediterranean route in attempts to reach Europe.

IOM data also show that at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing in January alone following multiple “invisible” shipwrecks amid extreme weather.

The organisation said more than 1,300 migrants have gone missing on the route in 2025, with the latest incident bringing the number reported dead or missing in 2026 to at least 484.

JKNewsMedia.com reports that the IOM further warned that trafficking and smuggling networks continue to exploit migrants in unseaworthy boats, exposing them to severe abuse and protection risks.

The agency then called for stronger international cooperation, protection-centred responses, and the expansion of safe and regular migration pathways to curb smuggling and save lives.