42 illegal migrants feared dead after shipwreck off in Libya
London-UK, November 13, 2025
Central Mediterranean Tragedy: 42 Migrants Feared Dead in Shipwreck Off Libya Coast
A harrowing tragedy in the Central Mediterranean has left 42 migrants feared dead after a boat capsized off Libya’s coast, the UN’s migration agency reports. The incident occurred last week after a rubber boat, carrying 49 individuals—including two women and 47 men—experienced engine failure and capsized in high waves shortly after departing the Libyan coastal city of Zuwara.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN watchdog, confirmed on Wednesday that only seven survivors were located after drifting at sea for six agonizing days.
This devastating shipwreck off Libya adds to the grim reality of the Central Mediterranean route, where the death toll for the year has already surpassed 1,000 people, underscoring the urgent need for expanded search and rescue operations.
Headline Points: The Incident and The Death Toll
The Vessel:
A rubber boat carrying 49 migrants (47 men and 2 women) capsized due to engine failure and high waves.
Location:
The incident occurred off the coast of Zuwara, Libya, placing it on the perilous Central Mediterranean migration route towards Italy.
The Missing:
42 migrants are feared dead and presumed lost at sea. The missing include 29 Sudanese, eight Somalis, three Cameroon nationals, and two Nigerians.
The Survivors:
Seven survivors—four from Sudan, two from Nigeria, and one from Cameroon—were rescued after drifting for six days near the al-Buri Oil Field by Libyan authorities.
IOM’s Response:
The UN’s IOM provided urgent medical care and assistance to the survivors, who were transferred to Tripoli in a stable but exhausted condition.
Rising Death Toll:
This shipwreck increases the total number of deaths on the Central Mediterranean route to over 1,000 people since the start of 2025, with more than 500 of those deaths occurring off the coast of Libya.
Six Days Adrift and the Loss of Hope
The journey began on November 3rd from the coastal city of Zuwara, which has become a major launching point for clandestine crossings from Libya towards Europe.
The migrants faced the extreme dangers of the Central Mediterranean immediately, with high waves causing the boat’s engine to fail just hours into the trip. The vessel capsized, throwing all passengers overboard.
For the seven survivors, the ensuing six days were a struggle for survival.
They were found by Libyan authorities near the al-Buri Oil Field late last week, having endured severe dehydration, sunburn, and skin irritation from prolonged exposure to seawater.
According to the IOM, the survivors reported that some of the missing individuals were wearing life jackets, while others desperately held onto the overturned boat before eventually succumbing to exhaustion and the sea.
The IOM staff provided essential relief upon their arrival ashore in Tripoli.
The UN’s Call for Urgent Action
The UN has responded to this latest tragedy with a renewed plea for international cooperation.
The IOM explicitly stated that the rising death toll on the Central Mediterranean route, now standing at over 1,000 fatalities for the year, necessitates immediate action.
The dangerous route is plagued by a lack of coordinated search and rescue operations, a problem exacerbated by political deadlock among European Union member states over border control and migrant processing.
The IOM calls for:
Strengthened Regional Cooperation:
Better coordination between European, North African, and UN agencies to monitor and respond to distress calls rapidly.
Expanded Safe and Regular Pathways:
The creation of legal, safe avenues for migration and asylum processing to reduce reliance on dangerous smuggling networks off Libya’s coast.
More Effective Search and Rescue:
Increased resources and deployment of dedicated vessels to prevent further loss of life.
The shipwreck off Libya, which claimed the lives of 42 migrants feared dead, including refugees fleeing conflict in Sudan and Somalia, serves as a bleak reminder of the devastating human cost of current migration policies. Without a significant shift in approach, the Central Mediterranean will continue to be one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors.
