CAIRO (FN) — Eighteen migrants died Tuesday when a wooden boat capsized off the coast of Libya, the United Nations migration agency said, marking the latest tragedy along one of the world’s deadliest migration routes.
The vessel sank just hours into its journey due to rough seas near Surman, a coastal town west of Tripoli, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Sixty-four people were rescued by local authorities and aid workers.
Among the survivors were nationals from Sudan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Somalia, including a Sudanese woman and child. The IOM said the nationalities of the deceased had not yet been confirmed.
The central Mediterranean route, which connects North Africa to southern Europe, has claimed more than 1,000 lives this year alone, the agency said. At least 527 of those deaths occurred off Libya’s coast, where smugglers frequently launch overcrowded and unseaworthy boats.
Tuesday’s incident follows another deadly shipwreck last week off Tunisia, where 40 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were found dead. The back-to-back disasters underscore the growing risks faced by those fleeing conflict, poverty, and persecution.
Despite international efforts to curb irregular migration, Libya remains a key departure point for migrants hoping to reach Europe. Many are held in detention centers or fall prey to traffickers before attempting the perilous sea crossing.
The IOM said it was working with local partners to provide medical care and essential services to the survivors. It also renewed calls for coordinated action to prevent further loss of life and address the root causes of forced migration.
“The Mediterranean continues to be a graveyard for migrants,” the agency said in a statement, urging governments to expand safe and legal pathways for asylum seekers and refugees.
European border policies and limited rescue operations have drawn criticism from humanitarian groups, who argue that deterrence strategies are failing to protect vulnerable populations.
As search efforts continue off the Libyan coast, the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project is updating its records, which now reflect more than 1,046 deaths and disappearances along the central Mediterranean corridor in 2025.
