By Our Correspondent
At least 42 migrants, including two Nigerians, are feared dead after a rubber boat capsized off the coast of Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration. The tragedy marks another devastating incident along the Central Mediterranean route, one of the most dangerous migration paths in the world.
The vessel carrying 49 people, 47 men and two women, departed from Zuwara, a coastal city in northwestern Libya, around 3 a.m. local time on November 3. The migrants, mainly from Sudan, Somalia, Cameroon, and Nigeria, were attempting to reach Europe in search of safety and better opportunities.
About six hours after departure, heavy waves hit the rubber boat and caused the engine to fail near the Al Buri Oil Field in the Mediterranean Sea. With no means of movement and rough seas surrounding them, the vessel capsized, throwing all passengers into the water.
After drifting for six days, only seven survivors were found alive by the Libyan Coast Guard on November 8. The rescued included four men from Sudan, two from Nigeria, and one from Cameroon.
Survivors told officials that many of their companions died from dehydration and exhaustion while waiting for help. One survivor said they had no food, no water, and no hope. The International Organization for Migration confirmed that at least 42 people remain missing and are presumed dead, including 29 from Sudan, eight from Somalia, three from Cameroon, and two from Nigeria.
This disaster shows the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa to Europe. The International Organization for Migration reports that more than 1,000 people have died or gone missing in 2025 alone on the Central Mediterranean route.
Libya remains a key departure point for migrants and asylum seekers fleeing conflict, poverty, and political instability in Africa and the Middle East. With few safe or legal migration routes available, many continue to rely on smugglers and unsafe boats, often with deadly results.
Although only two Nigerians were among the missing, the incident highlights the growing number of Nigerian nationals risking their lives through irregular migration. Nigerian authorities and humanitarian groups are being urged to increase public awareness of the dangers of such journeys and provide better support for those at risk.
In response to the tragedy, the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have renewed calls for stronger cooperation on search and rescue operations and for the creation of safe and legal migration pathways. An IOM spokesperson said governments must work together to prevent such tragedies by providing safer alternatives for people seeking protection.
Recovery efforts for the missing are still ongoing, though authorities fear few additional survivors will be found. Humanitarian agencies are providing medical care, psychological support, and repatriation assistance to the rescued migrants.
The Libyan boat disaster serves as another painful reminder of the human cost of unsafe migration and the urgent need for stronger international action to address its root causes.
