At least 53 people, including two minors, were killed after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Libya, according to international media reports.
The incident occurred near the coastal city of Zuwara in northwestern Libya, a known departure point for migrants attempting the dangerous sea crossing to Europe.
The vessel was carrying dozens of people who were seeking better economic and living conditions in Europe, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said in a statement.
Rescue operations were launched immediately following the accident, but authorities reported that many passengers were either missing or confirmed dead. Search efforts remain ongoing to recover bodies and locate any survivors.
Libyan authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the capsizing, while emergency teams continue to assess the full scale of the tragedy.
Human rights organisations have renewed their warnings over the risks faced by migrants travelling along the Central Mediterranean route, one of the deadliest migration corridors in the world.
Despite repeated tragedies, Libya’s coastline remains a major transit point not only for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa but also for people from other regions attempting to reach Europe by sea.
The latest incident underscores the continuing humanitarian crisis linked to irregular migration and the lack of safe and legal pathways for those fleeing conflict, poverty, and instability.
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