Web Desk; At least 18 people lost their lives when a wooden boat carrying dozens of migrants capsized off the coast of Libya on Tuesday, according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Sixty-four people, including 12 Pakistanis, were rescued from the tragedy that occurred near the city of Surman.
The IOM said the vessel overturned just a few hours after setting sail due to rough seas and high waves. Among the survivors were 29 Sudanese men, one Sudanese woman and child, 18 Bangladeshi men, 12 Pakistani men, and three Somali men. Authorities have not yet confirmed the nationalities of those who perished.
The IOM called the incident a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants attempting perilous sea crossings in search of safety and opportunity. It added that the central Mediterranean route — stretching from North Africa to Europe — remains one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors.
The agency’s Missing Migrants Project has so far recorded over 1,046 deaths and disappearances along this route in 2025, including more than 500 off the Libyan coast. The IOM said it was working with local partners to provide health care and essential services to survivors and urged immediate international action to prevent further tragedies at sea.
