At Least 53 Dead or Missing in Central Mediterranean Shipwreck IOM

At least 53 migrants are confirmed dead or missing after an overcrowded rubber boat capsized in the Central Mediterranean, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said, highlighting the escalating dangers along one of the world’s deadliest migration routes.

In a statement released on Monday, February 9, the IOM said the vessel departed early Friday morning, February 6, from the western Libyan coastal town of Al-Zawiya. According to survivor testimonies, the boat began taking on water around six hours into the journey before capsizing.

Only two people — both Nigerian women — were rescued by Libyan authorities. One survivor said she lost her husband in the incident, while the other reported losing both of her infant children. The IOM confirmed that at least two babies are among those dead or missing, adding that all passengers on board were African nationals.

The rubber boat, designed to carry far fewer people, was carrying an estimated 55 migrants at the time of departure, adding to the growing death toll on the Central Mediterranean route in early 2026.

Rising Death Toll Despite Fewer Crossings

The IOM and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said the shipwreck is part of a broader humanitarian crisis unfolding this year. As of February 9, at least 484 people are confirmed dead or missing along the Central Mediterranean route in 2026, including 375 recorded in January alone.

Despite a sharp decline in arrivals to Italy — with around 1,813 arrivals so far this year, representing a 56 percent drop compared to early 2025 — the IOM warned that the death rate remains disproportionately high.

The agency attributed this trend in part to what it described as “invisible shipwrecks,” fatal incidents in which no survivors are found, leaving many deaths undocumented and families without answers.

In 2025, more than 1,300 people were reported dead or missing on the Central Mediterranean route. Humanitarian organizations warn that the true figure may be significantly higher due to underreporting.

Calls for Urgent Action

Following the latest tragedy, the IOM and UNHCR renewed calls for coordinated international action to prevent further loss of life.

The agencies stressed the need for stronger cooperation to dismantle human trafficking and smuggling networks that exploit vulnerable migrants by placing them on unsafe, overcrowded boats.

They also called for expanded state-led search and rescue capacity in the Central Mediterranean, noting that current efforts rely heavily on the Libyan Coast Guard and non-governmental organizations operating under difficult conditions.

The United Nations reiterated its long-standing appeal for the expansion of safe and legal migration pathways, warning that the absence of such options continues to push people toward deadly sea crossings.

“The reduction in crossings does not equate to improved safety,” the IOM said, stressing that without systemic changes, the Central Mediterranean will remain one of the world’s deadliest migration routes.