IOM confirms only seven survivors from boat carrying 49 migrants; death toll on route surpasses 1,000 in 2025.
Two Nigerians are among the 42 migrants feared dead after a boat capsized on the Mediterranean Sea, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) confirmed in a statement released Thursday.
The vessel, carrying 49 migrants and refugees, departed Zuwara, Libya, on November 3, but capsized hours later after high waves caused engine failure. Passengers were thrown overboard, and only seven men—four Sudanese, two Nigerians, and one Cameroonian—survived after drifting for six days.
According to the IOM, 42 people remain missing and are presumed dead. The casualties include 29 Sudanese, eight Somalis, three Cameroonians, and two Nigerians.
The survivors received emergency care, water, and food upon rescue.
The incident adds to a growing list of tragedies along the Central Mediterranean route, where over 1,000 migrants have already lost their lives in 2025.
The IOM said the latest shipwreck highlights the urgent need for safer migration pathways, enhanced regional cooperation, and more effective search-and-rescue operations.
This disaster follows similar incidents off Surman and Lampedusa in recent weeks, reinforcing the dangers faced by migrants fleeing conflict, poverty, and instability.
Post a Comment