Libya: At least 50 migrants missing after shipwreck

The boat was carrying approximately 60 people from several sub-Saharan African countries, including women and children.

At least 50 migrants are missing in the Mediterranean after their boat capsized off the eastern coast of Libya. Ten people survived the shipwreck, according to two security sources cited by Reuters.

The tragedy occurred on Tuesday, July 14, near the island of El-Bardaa, about 70 kilometers west of Tobruk. This port city is located in eastern Libya, not far from the border with Egypt.

Approximately 60 people on board

The wooden boat was carrying approximately 60 people. Among them were women and children, according to initial reports given to journalists.

The passengers came from several sub-Saharan African countries. Their precise nationalities and identities have not yet been made public.

The ten survivors were rescued near El-Bardaa Island. They reported that the boat had set sail early that morning. Authorities have not yet indicated the exact cause of the capsizing.

The missing persons had not been found at the time the initial reports were published. The death toll therefore remains provisional and may change as operations at sea continue.

Ten survivors taken into care

The survivors were taken to a local medical facility for treatment. No details were given about their condition.

Security sources requested anonymity. Libyan authorities had not yet released a detailed statement on the search or the exact number of people still missing.

Another rescue had taken place the previous day in the same area. Teams from Tobruk had recovered 24 migrants whose boat had been adrift for nearly two weeks in Libyan waters.

Four people died aboard the dilapidated vessel due to extreme humanitarian conditions, according to the same sources. The survivors were also transferred to a local hospital.

The Libyan road remains very dangerous

Libya has become one of the main departure points for migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean. Nationals from several African countries cross the desert before boarding boats that are often overcrowded and poorly equipped.

The country has been mired in persistent political and security instability since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Smuggling networks are taking advantage of this situation to organize clandestine crossings.

Migrants are exposed to violence, arbitrary detention, forced labor, and shipwrecks. Women and children are among the most vulnerable on this route.

In June, authorities in Tobruk had already recovered approximately 26 bodies after another boat capsized near the city. The recurrence of these tragedies serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of departures from the Libyan coast.

These crossings often end without news.

Families of passengers may have to wait several days for information. The lack of complete passenger lists and difficulties in identification often complicate the search for the missing.

AfrikMag had already reported the story of a Sierra Leonean girl found after three days at sea. Her story already illustrated the extreme dangers faced by those attempting the crossing.

In the shipwreck reported on Tuesday, the search continues around El-Bardaa. Authorities still need to establish a final death toll and identify the countries of origin of the victims and survivors.