A maritime accident off the coast of Libya, occurring sometime overnight between December 14 and 15, 2023, resulted in the deaths of at least 61 individuals, including women and children. The incident involved a boat, carrying roughly 86 migrants, capsizing near Zuwara.

The boat was on the central Mediterranean route, notorious for its challenging sea conditions and frequent accidents.

During the journey, the vessel faced extreme challenges, contending with waves as high as eight feet. Alarm Phone, a hotline for migrant emergencies, received a distress signal from the boat. Reports indicate that the Libyan coast guard did not respond to the call for help.

Survivors of the tragedy were taken to detention facilities in Libya, where conditions are often described as severe, and in some cases, inhumane, with reports of mistreatment and torture.

Most of the casualties were identified as nationals of Nigeria, The Gambia, and other African countries. 

The incident is part of a worrying pattern of rising migrant deaths in the central Mediterranean. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) observed that from January to November 2023, at least 940 migrants perished and 1,248 were reported missing in this area while attempting to reach Europe.

In 2022, the IOM recorded around 1,400 dead and missing on this route, underscoring the peril faced by those attempting this journey.

Libya’s persistent conflict has exacerbated the situation, becoming a hub for human trafficking. Migrants, often fleeing conflict and economic hardship, are routed through Libya and placed on overburdened, poorly equipped boats. The latest incident has incited calls for improved search and rescue efforts and more vigilant maritime monitoring to avert future disasters.

In June, an incident was reported involving the Adriana, a fishing boat carrying mainly Syrians, Pakistanis, and Egyptians, which sank in international waters off the coast of Greece, resulting in 646 fatalities.

The year also saw a significant surge of over 153,000 refugees and migrants arriving in Italy, predominantly from Tunisia and Libya, underscoring the continuous scale of the migration crisis in the Mediterranean.