Mediterranean Tragedy: Two Babies Among 53 Dead After Boat Capsizes Off Libya

On February 9, 2026, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed that 53 migrants, including two infants, are dead or missing after their rubber dinghy overturned in the central Mediterranean. The vessel, carrying 55 passengers of various African nationalities, departed from the western Libyan city of Al-Zawiya at approximately 11:00 PM on February 5. According to survivor accounts, the boat began taking on water and capsized just six hours into its journey, north of the coastal town of Zuwara.

In a harrowing rescue by Libyan authorities on Friday, only two Nigerian women were saved. One survivor reported the loss of her husband, while the other recounted the tragic death of both her babies. IOM teams have since provided the women with emergency medical and psychological care. This incident brings the 2026 death toll on the central Mediterranean route to at least 484 people in just the first five weeks of the year, a figure likely undercounted due to “invisible shipwrecks” occurring during severe winter weather.

The IOM continues to warn that Libya is not a safe port, citing the recent discovery of underground detention sites and mass graves in the east. Trafficking networks continue to profit from these dangerous crossings, often forcing migrants onto unseaworthy boats despite the extreme risks.

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