The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has confirmed a tragic shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea that resulted in the deaths of two Nigerian nationals, while two others were among the survivors rescued.
A Fatal Journey
The incident involved a rubber boat carrying 49 migrants and refugees which departed from Zuwara in northwest Libya in the early hours of November 3, 2025. According to survivor accounts given to the IOM, the vessel encountered trouble roughly six hours into its journey.
High waves caused the engine to fail, leading the boat to capsize. All passengers, which included 47 men and two women, were thrown into the water. The boat then drifted for six days before Libyan authorities intervened.
Rescue and Tragic Outcome
On November 8, 2025, the Libyan authorities rescued seven survivors. This group consisted of four Sudanese nationals, two Nigerians, and one Cameroonian.
Tragically, 42 people are missing and presumed dead. The IOM provided a breakdown of the missing, which includes 29 from Sudan, eight from Somalia, three from Cameroon, and the two Nigerians who lost their lives.
Upon their arrival at the disembarkation point, the IOM team, working with local authorities, provided the survivors with emergency medical care, food, and water.
A Deadly Pattern and a Call for Action
This shipwreck is the latest in a series of fatal incidents on the Central Mediterranean route, following other recent tragedies near Surman, Libya, and the Italian island of Lampedusa.
According to the latest data from the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, the death toll on this route has surpassed 1,000 in 2025 alone. Since 2014, more than 25,600 people have died or gone missing in the Central Mediterranean, making it the world's deadliest migration path.
The IOM attributes the high number of deaths to several factors, including the long and perilous journey, dangerous smuggling practices, limited search-and-rescue capabilities, and restrictions on non-governmental rescue organizations. Migrants often attempt the crossing in unseaworthy and overcrowded inflatable boats.
In response to this ongoing crisis, the IOM has issued a strong call for strengthened regional cooperation. The organization is urging for expanded safe and regular migration pathways and more effective search and rescue operations to prevent further loss of life. The IOM reiterated its stance that humane and orderly migration benefits both people on the move and society as a whole.
