Many Nigerians are feared dead after a rubber boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Libya, leaving at least 53 people dead or missing.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) disclosed the incident on its website on Monday, noting that the vessel, carrying 55 migrants and refugees of various African nationalities, overturned north of Zuwara, Libya, on Friday.

Only two Nigerian women were rescued during a search-and-rescue operation conducted by Libyan authorities. One survivor reported losing her husband in the tragedy, while the other said she lost her two babies when the boat capsized.

“IOM mourns the loss of life in yet another deadly incident along the Central Mediterranean route,” the organisation said, adding that its teams provided emergency medical assistance to the survivors upon disembarkation in coordination with relevant authorities.

According to survivor accounts, the boat departed from Al-Zawiya, Libya, at about 11:00 p.m. on February 5. Approximately six hours into the journey, the vessel began taking in water before capsizing.

IOM data indicate that at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing in January alone, following several “invisible” shipwrecks along the Central Mediterranean route, many of which went unrecorded due to extreme weather conditions.

The organisation’s Missing Migrants Project notes that more than 1,300 migrants went missing along the Central Mediterranean route in 2025. The latest tragedy brings the number of migrants reported dead or missing in 2026 to at least 484.

IOM warned that human trafficking and smuggling networks continue to exploit migrants, forcing them to undertake dangerous crossings in unseaworthy boats and exposing them to severe abuse and protection risks. The organisation stressed the urgent need for stronger international cooperation, protection-focused responses, and the creation of safe and regular migration pathways to prevent further loss of life.