• 53 migrants dead or missing after a boat capsized off Libya
• Two survivors, both Nigerian women, were rescued
• The boat sank after taking on water hours into its journey
• Significant rising death toll among migrants attempting Mediterranean crossing

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 53 irregular migrants are dead or missing following the capsizing of a rubber boat off the coast of Libya. The incident occurred near Zuwara, where only two survivors were found, both Nigerian women, during a search-and-rescue operation on Friday. One survivor recounted losing her husband, while the other tragically lost her two babies, highlighting the human toll of this perilous journey. The IOM provided emergency medical care to the survivors upon their disembarkation, calling for urgent international action regarding the migrant crisis, as stated in reports from CBS News, AA, and BBC.

The boat had departed from Al-Zawiya, Libya, at around 11:00 PM local time before capsizing approximately six hours later as it attempted to cross the Mediterranean. In January alone, the IOM highlighted that at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing in several "invisible" shipwrecks, raising concerns about the unreported nature of many such tragedies. Updated figures revealed almost 500 migrants have now been reported dead or missing in 2026, reflecting a troubling trend in Mediterranean crossings, according to CBS News, AA, and BBC.

The dire conditions facing migrants in Libya continue to exacerbate this crisis, with networks of traffickers profiting from overcrowding and unsafe travel methods. The IOM has emphasized the necessity for stronger international cooperation to tackle these smuggling operations while advocating for the establishment of safe and legal migration pathways as a means to prevent future tragedies at sea. Human rights officials have also called for an end to reports of torture and abuse in detention centers, further emphasizing the urgent need for reform in migration processes, as highlighted by CBS News, AA, and BBC.