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Shipwreck with 55 Migrants off Libya – 53 Missing, Including Two Infants

Published February 9, 2026, 12:28
Shipwreck with 55 Migrants off Libya – 53 Missing, Including Two Infants

Tragedy struck off the coast of Libya with the capsizing of a boat carrying about 55 migrants. Only two women from Nigeria were rescued, while the other 53 are missing, including two infants. According to the testimony of the survivors, the boat capsized due to water ingress during the voyage, which started from Al Zawiya, Libya. This tragedy adds to the increasing number of deaths and missing persons on the Central Mediterranean route. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 1,300 migrants were missing in the area in 2025, while the total number of dead or missing in 2026 amounts to at least 484. The capsizing of the boat highlights the risks faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Central Mediterranean maritime route, a route characterized by criminal organizations and precarious conditions.