Lives lost at sea: Migrant boat catastrophe in central Mediterranean

The incident occurred in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian island of Lampedusa, during a crossing from the Libyan port of Zawiya to Italy. The boat was intercepted on Sunday, May 11, 2025, after departing on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

At least three people died, including two children aged 3 and 4, likely due to dehydration. A fourth migrant was reported to have fallen into the sea and died on Friday, May 9, 2025. Efforts to revive one migrant on the boat were unsuccessful.

The German Sea rescue charity RESQSHIP, operating the vessel Nadir, rescued 59 survivors from the rubber boat. Some survivors suffered from burns and required medical treatment, with two children and four adults in critical condition handed over to the Italian Coast Guard. Survivors were transferred to Lampedusa for further care.

The inflatable dinghy was described as unseaworthy, a common issue with vessels used by human smugglers. It departed Zawiya, Libya, but its motor failed one day into the journey, leaving the boat adrift and vulnerable to a storm. The boat was spotted by a surveillance drone operated by the EU’s border agency, Frontex, south of Lampedusa. High waves and rough seas exacerbated the situation, contributing to the tragedy.

RESQSHIP’s Nadir arrived at the scene but was too late to save the three deceased migrants. The organization reported that the children’s bodies were handed over to them, highlighting the dire conditions on board. The Italian Coast Guard and police were involved in transferring survivors to safety.

The Libya-Italy maritime route, part of the central Mediterranean, is one of the deadliest migration paths globally, with nearly 25,000 migrants reported dead or missing since 2014, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The route is heavily trafficked due to Libya’s role as a primary transit point for migrants fleeing conflict, poverty, and persecution in Africa and the Middle East. Below are key points about similar incidents and the ongoing crisis:

January 1, 2025: A boat carrying 27 migrants from Zuwara, Libya, tilted and took on water, causing 20 passengers, including five women and three children, to fall overboard and go missing. Seven survivors, including an 8-year-old Syrian boy, reached Lampedusa.

March 19, 2025: An inflatable dinghy carrying 56 migrants from Tunisia capsized near Lampedusa, killing six and leaving 40 missing. Survivors reported rough seas, with some passengers falling overboard.

December 17, 2023: A boat with 86 migrants sank off Zuwara, Libya, leaving 61 presumed dead due to high waves. Survivors were taken to a Libyan detention center.

July 26, 2021: A boat carrying 75 migrants capsized off Khums, Libya, with 57 presumed dead, including 20 women and two children. Engine failure and bad weather were cited as causes.