Dozens of migrants are feared missing after a boat carrying more than 80 people capsized off the coast of Tobruk in eastern Libya during an attempted crossing to Europe.
The majority of those on board were Egyptian nationals, according to the Al-Aabireen Foundation for Migrant Assistance and Humanitarian Services, which confirmed the incident on Friday.
So far, search and rescue teams have saved 13 people, including 10 Egyptians. Several bodies have also been recovered from the sea, with two of the deceased identified as Egyptian nationals. Efforts are ongoing to locate more survivors as local authorities and humanitarian organizations continue to search the waters.
The boat was reportedly overloaded and overturned during its journey across the Mediterranean. It had departed from the Libyan coast with hopes of reaching Europe, adding to the growing list of tragedies along one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes. Survivors include Egyptians from both southern governorates and areas near Cairo, such as Qalyubia and Sharqia.
The incident has again drawn attention to the perils faced by migrants departing from Libya’s eastern shores, a region increasingly used for smuggling due to its proximity to Egypt and minimal coastal oversight. Despite political divisions and ongoing instability, Libya continues to be a key transit point for migrants from North Africa and beyond.
Human rights organizations have long warned of the inhumane conditions many migrants endure, often trapped between ruthless trafficking networks and weak or absent legal protections. Most travel in unsafe, overcrowded vessels with little chance of survival if anything goes wrong at sea.
