A British media report has said that 116 irregular migrants are feared dead, with only one survivor, after a boat that departed from the Libyan coastal city of Zuwara sank in the Mediterranean Sea.
According to a report by GB News, the vessel set off from Zuwara on Thursday, 18 December, before disappearing at sea. The report cited information suggesting that the boat likely sank after contact was lost.
The international NGO Alarm Phone reportedly received a distress call on Friday, 19 December, prompting aerial monitoring efforts. A surveillance aircraft operated by Sea-Watch Sea-Bird later located the boat’s position, reinforcing concerns that the vessel had already sunk after repeated attempts to reach it via satellite phone failed.
The report said that both the Libyan Coast Guard and the Italian Coast Guard were informed of the situation. However, no rescue or interception operation was carried out by either side.
The sole survivor was eventually rescued on 21 December by a Tunisian fishing boat. According to his testimony, weather conditions deteriorated rapidly just hours after the vessel left Zuwara. He was transferred to hospital in critical condition.
The incident highlights the continuing dangers faced by migrants attempting irregular sea crossings from Libya toward Europe, particularly during winter months when weather conditions in the Mediterranean can shift suddenly and violently. Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that delays or gaps in search-and-rescue responses significantly increase the risk of mass fatalities.