A tragic incident occurred off the coast of Libya where a rubber boat carrying 55 people capsized, leaving 53 people, including two babies, dead or missing. The boat departed from Zawia, northwestern Libya, on February 5 and overturned approximately six hours later near Zuwara. Only two Nigerian women survived and received emergency medical care from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) teams.

The IOM reports that the survivors lost their loved ones in the tragedy, with one woman losing her husband and the other losing her two babies. The boat was carrying refugees and migrants from African countries, highlighting the persistent risks faced by those attempting the central Mediterranean route.

This incident brings the total number of refugees and migrants reported dead or missing on the central Mediterranean route this year to at least 484. In 2025, over 1,300 people went missing on this route. The IOM emphasizes that human trafficking and smuggling networks continue to exploit migrants, using unseaworthy boats and exposing them to severe abuse and protection risks.