Two Nigerians are among dozens of migrants feared dead after their boat capsized in the central Mediterranean, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has confirmed.
The tragedy occurred on November 8, when a vessel carrying 49 migrants and refugees reportedly overturned after strong waves caused its engine to fail, throwing all passengers into the open sea.
The boat had departed the Libyan coastal city of Zuwara in the early hours of November 3 in an attempt to reach Europe.
According to an IOM statement, only seven survivors, including two Nigerians, were rescued after drifting for six days. The remaining 42 individuals, among them two other Nigerians, are now presumed dead.
The missing include 29 Sudanese nationals, eight Somalis, three Cameroonians, and two Nigerians, pointing out the increasingly deadly risks faced by migrants fleeing conflict, poverty, and instability across Africa.
IOM said its humanitarian team provided immediate medical assistance, water, and food to the survivors upon disembarkation.
The agency warned that this latest tragedy adds to a growing death toll along the Central Mediterranean Route, which has already surpassed 1,000 recorded deaths in 2025, making it one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors.
“This tragic event, coming just weeks after other deadly incidents off Surman and Lampedusa, showcases the persistent dangers faced by migrants and refugees,” the organisation noted, reiterating calls for stronger regional cooperation, safer migration pathways, and more effective search-and-rescue operations.
The Mediterranean Sea has witnessed repeated disasters involving overcrowded, poorly maintained boats used by smugglers.
In December 2023, a similar wreck off Libya left over 60 people missing and presumed dead, with many more incidents occurring since then.
Libya remains a key departure point for migrants attempting the perilous journey to Europe, despite the high number of casualties recorded every year.
