The UN migration agency has stated that over 80 migrants are missing after a vessel that set sail from a coastal town in Libya overturned in the central Mediterranean. The confirmed recovery of at least two bodies has been reported.
Approximately 120 people were on board the boat when it left the town of Tajoura, located in northwestern Libya, on Sunday. The International Organization for Migration reported that the vessel capsized due to taking on water amidst severe weather conditions.
Rescues were conducted by a merchant vessel and a tugboat, which managed to save 32 individuals. These survivors were subsequently transported to the southern Italian island of Lampedusa by the Italian coast guard.
Libya serves as a primary transit route for migrants attempting to escape conflict and economic hardship in Africa and the Middle East. This incident occurs shortly after the Italian coast guard located 19 deceased individuals and rescued 58 others from a migrant dinghy approximately 80 nautical miles from Lampedusa. This rescue operation took place within the Libyan search and rescue area during adverse weather.
Lampedusa, a small island, is the principal European entry point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa, a journey that has tragically claimed thousands of lives. The majority of these fatalities are linked to small boats departing from the Tunisian and Libyan coastlines.
The IOM noted on Tuesday that the beginning of 2026 has seen the highest number of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean Sea since 2014, with at least 990 fatalities recorded so far this year. Specifically, in the Central Mediterranean, 765 individuals have lost their lives in 2026, representing a significant increase of about 150% compared to the same period last year.
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