Alpha News

New Tragedy with Migrants in the Mediterranean

Published February 9, 2026, 14:31

Fifty-three migrants, including two infants, have lost their lives or are missing after a rubber boat carrying 55 people capsized off the coast of Libya, the International Organization for Migration announced today. The boat capsized north of Zuwara, Libya, on February 6th, with only two Nigerian women surviving. The survivors provided harrowing testimonies, stating they lost family members in the tragedy. One said she lost her husband, while the other reported losing her two babies. According to survivor accounts, the boat – carrying migrants and refugees of various African nationalities – departed from Al Zawiya, Libya, around 11:00 PM on February 5th and capsized approximately six hours later due to water ingress. According to the IOM's Missing Migrants Project, more than 1,300 migrants were reported missing in the central Mediterranean in 2025. This latest incident brings the total number of migrants believed to be dead or missing on this route to at least 484 in 2026, highlighting the tragic plight of migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean.