Over 60 migrants feared drowned in Mediterranean sea near Libyan coast

It is estimated that over sixty migrants perished in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The UN agency reported on Saturday that the ship departed Zuwara with about 86 people on board, citing survivors. High waves reportedly overflowed the boat, and 61 migrants—including children—were reported missing and thought to have perished. One of the main places from which migrants attempt to enter Europe by crossing the Mediterranean is Libya. It is one of the world’s most perilous migration routes; according to IOM estimates, over 2,200 people have drowned while trying to cross this year alone. According to the agency, the majority of the victims in the most recent incident were from Nigeria, the Gambia, and other African nations, as reported by the AFP news agency. Additionally, it stated that 25 survivors had been moved to a detention facility in Libya and were receiving medical attention. An IOM representative described this year’s death toll as a “dramatic number which unfortunately demonstrates that not enough is being done to save lives at sea” in a post on X, the former Twitter platform. A fishing boat sank off the coast of southern Greece in June, resulting in at least 78 fatalities and another 100 rescues. Numerous migrants are regularly crammed onto boats that are too small to safely hold them during the Mediterranean crossings. Most of the people traveling hope to arrive in Italy before continuing on to other European nations; some are fleeing persecution or conflict, while others are looking for employment. The UN refugee agency reports that over 153,000 migrants have crossed into Italy this year from Tunisia and Libya.