18 Migrants Dead, Dozens Rescued After Boat Capsizes Off Libyan Coast – IOM Confirms
- Ajibade Omolade Chistianah
- Oct 29
- 2 min read
At least 18 migrants have died and more than 60 others were rescued after a wooden boat capsized off the coast of western Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has confirmed.
The vessel, carrying migrants of various nationalities, overturned a few hours after setting sail due to high waves in the Mediterranean Sea. The tragedy occurred near Surman, a coastal town west of Tripoli.
According to the IOM, 64 survivors were rescued from the wreck, including 29 Sudanese men, one Sudanese woman, one Sudanese child, 18 Bangladeshi men, 12 Pakistani men, and three Somali men. The nationalities of the 18 deceased victims have not yet been identified.
“The boat capsized only a few hours into its journey due to high waves,” IOM said in a statement, describing the incident as a stark reminder of the deadly risks migrants face while attempting to reach Europe through unsafe routes.
Libya remains a key departure point for migrants attempting the perilous crossing across the Central Mediterranean, one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. The IOM’s Missing Migrants Project reports that more than 1,000 people have died or gone missing along the route so far in 2025, including over 500 off the Libyan coast alone.
This latest disaster comes just a week after another fatal shipwreck off Tunisia, where dozens of sub-Saharan African migrants drowned, underscoring the worsening humanitarian crisis across North Africa’s migration corridors.
The IOM said it is working with local partners to provide survivors with emergency medical care, food, and shelter while calling for stronger international action to prevent further loss of life at sea
“This tragedy highlights the urgent need for safe migration pathways and greater efforts to address the root causes of displacement,” the agency said.
Comments