A tragic incident has occurred off the coast of Libya, where a boat carrying migrants capsized on Friday, resulting in the death of at least 15 Egyptian nationals.
Tripoli: Once again, a sea journey has proven fatal for migrants seeking a better life in Europe. A migrant boat capsized off the coast of Tobruk, eastern Libya, on Friday night, leading to the painful deaths of at least 15 people. All those killed were residents of Egypt. The boat was headed towards Europe but fell victim to the harsh sea conditions.
Coast Guard Confirms Incident
Marwan al-Shayari, media spokesperson for the General Administration of the Tobruk Coast Guard, provided information about this tragic event. He stated that the boat capsized in the sea near Tobruk at approximately 2:00 AM on Friday night. Several migrants were on board, most of whom were from Egypt. Following the incident, 15 bodies were recovered, while many others are still missing.
According to spokesperson al-Shayari, two Sudanese crew members on board the boat were rescued alive, while the search for the third is still ongoing. In a statement to the AP (Associated Press), he mentioned that the sea conditions were not suitable for sailing at the time, but the exact cause of the boat capsizing has not yet been determined.
10 People Rescued, Many Still Missing
The local humanitarian aid organization "Abreen" stated via a Facebook post on Friday afternoon that at least 10 people were rescued alive in the accident. However, it is not yet clear how many people were on board the boat in total and how many are missing. Migrants traveling from the Libyan coasts to Europe often embark on dangerous sea journeys, where accidents are common.
Last month, another boat incident occurred in the same area, where a boat carrying 32 migrants suffered engine failure. In that accident, one person died, and 22 migrants went missing. Nine people were rescued. The boat carried citizens of Egypt and Syria.
Migrant Crisis Remains a Global Concern
The central Mediterranean route is considered the world's most dangerous migrant route. According to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 531 migrants have died on this route since the beginning of 2025, while 754 are missing.
The figures for 2024 were even more devastating. According to the IOM, 962 migrants died off the Libyan coast that year, and 1,563 went missing. In 2023, approximately 17,200 migrants were intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard and sent back.
Libya has long been a major transit country for migrants from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia seeking to reach Europe. However, since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country has been grappling with political instability and law and order problems, which have led to more active human trafficking networks.
Migrants often embark on journeys to Europe on unseaworthy and unsafe boats provided by smugglers. They hope for refuge, security, and economic opportunities in Europe, but their journey is perilous.
