Libya Boat Inferno Leaves 50 Sudanese Dead, Says UN
Libya Boat Inferno Leaves 50 Sudanese Dead, Says UN
A boat carrying Sudanese migrants caught fire off Libya’s coast, killing at least 50 people, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported on Wednesday.
Twenty-four survivors, rescued from the incident, stated that around 75 Sudanese nationals, fleeing the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, were on board.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and the boat’s point of departure and intended destination had not yet been confirmed, IOM spokespersons said during a briefing in Geneva.
“This incident once again highlights the urgent need for coordinated action to prevent further tragedies in the Mediterranean,” the IOM stated, urging governments and international actors to intervene.
According to IOM data, at least 1,225 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean in 2025 alone, though the true toll is believed to be significantly higher due to unreported cases.
Many of the crossings happen at night in unregistered boats, which often vanish without a trace when they sink, making accurate data collection and rescue efforts extremely difficult, the agency added.
dpa/NAN
