A boat carrying migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday that 53 people are missing. They are presumed dead. The boat left Al-Zawiya, Libya, on February 5th. It sank about six hours after it started its journey. Only two women survived.
The boat was trying to reach Europe. It capsized north of Zuwara, Libya. The two Nigerian women who survived told their story. They said the boat started taking on water. This caused it to overturn. Libyan authorities found the two survivors. They received medical help from the IOM. The full story of the tragedy was reported days later.
This sad event shows the dangers of traveling by sea. People take risky journeys to reach Europe. They often use bad boats. Criminal groups sell these boats. They make money from people who want to escape war or poverty. These groups also use bad weather to help their illegal trips. The IOM is worried that many people have died this year on similar trips. This new tragedy supports their concerns.
Many people have died or disappeared in the Mediterranean. From 2014 to 2025, the IOM recorded over 33,000 deaths. Last year, 1,873 people were lost at sea. Many of these were on the central route. The loss of 53 people in this one accident adds to these numbers.
The European Commission said that countries must work together. A spokesperson said, "We need to work with partners, like Libya. This will help stop dangerous journeys and fight smugglers." They also said that safer ways to travel should be created. The two Nigerian women are now dealing with great sadness. They lost loved ones and survived a terrible experience.