At Least 53 Dead or Missing in Latest Libya Boat Capsizing. Tripoli, Libya — February 9, 2026 Lead Paragraph: A tragic incident occurred off the coast of Libya on February 6, 2026, when a rubber boat carrying 55 people capsized, resulting in at least 53 deaths or missing persons, including two infants.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported the incident, which took place north of the coastal city of Zuwara in northwestern Libya.
The capsizing of the boat highlights the perilous journey faced by refugees and migrants attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean route.
The vessel, which departed from al — Zawiya in northwestern Libya around 11 pm on February 5, capsized approximately six hours later.
The IOM provided emergency medical care to two survivors who were rescued by Libyan authorities.
According to the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, over 1,300 people have gone missing in the Central Mediterranean route in 2025. This incident brings the number of refugees and migrants reported dead or missing on the route this year to at least 484.
The IOM noted that in January alone, at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing following multiple “invisible “shipwrecks in the Central Mediterranean amid extreme weather, with hundreds more deaths believed to be unrecorded.
The IOM expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life in this incident and emphasized the ongoing Mediterranean migrant crises.
The tragedy underscores the persistent and deadly risks faced by migrants and refugees attempting the dangerous crossing. Further details regarding the incident are expected to emerge as investigations continue.
The IOM and Libyan authorities are working to provide support to the affected families and to prevent future tragedies along the perilous migration routes.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
