42 Migrants Presumed Dead in Shipwreck Off Libya, Says UN Migration Agency

At least forty-two migrants are feared dead after a boat capsized off the coast of Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Tuesday.

According to the UN agency, the vessel sank in the early hours of the morning near Zuwara, a coastal city in western Libya that has become a major departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe across the Mediterranean.

The IOM said that survivors were rescued by local fishermen and brought to shore, while search and rescue efforts continue in rough sea conditions. Most of those on board are believed to have come from sub-Saharan Africa.

“The loss of so many lives is another tragic reminder of the urgent need for coordinated search and rescue operations and safe migration pathways,” the IOM said in a statement.

The central Mediterranean route remains one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors. According to IOM data, more than 2,500 people have died or gone missing this year while attempting the crossing from North Africa to Europe.