New Delhi: At least fifty-three people are feared dead or missing after a migrant boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya, according to the United Nations’ migration agency. Only two people survived the tragedy which unfolded during a dangerous overnight journey towards Europe.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said the boat overturned north of the Libya town of Zuwara on Friday. The vessel was carrying migrants and refugees from several African countries who were attempting the perilous sea crossing in search of safety and opportunity.

In a statement, the IOM confirmed that just two Nigerian women were rescued during a search and rescue operation carried out by Libyan authorities. The survivors were provided emergency medical care after being brought ashore.

Their accounts painted a devastating picture of loss. One woman told responders she lost her husband in the incident while the other said her two young children drowned when the boat capsized.

According to survivor testimonies, the boat departed from Al-Zawiya, west of Tripoli, around 11 pm on February 5. And roughly after six hours into the journey, the vessel began taking on water before overturning in the open sea.

The IOM said the incident highlights the continued dangers faced by migrants using the Central Mediterranean route, one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors. The agency warned that trafficking and smuggling networks continue to exploit vulnerable people, cramming them into unsafe boats while charging large sums for the journey.

“These networks profit from desperation and expose people to severe abuse and life-threatening risks,” the IOM said, urging stronger international cooperation to dismantle criminal groups and expand safe, legal migration options.

The tragedy adds to an already grim toll. The IOM estimates that hundreds of people have died so far this year attempting to cross the Mediterranean, often amid harsh weather conditions.

Between 2014 and the end of 2025, more than 33,000 migrants were reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean. Last year alone, at least 1,873 people lost their lives on the route and most of them along the central crossing from North Africa.

European Union officials said the latest incident underlines the urgent need to address irregular migration and prevent dangerous journeys before more lives are lost.