CAIRO (AP) — Tragedy struck in Mediterranean waters when a vessel transporting 33 Sudanese migrants overturned near Tobruk, Libya, resulting in 17 confirmed fatalities and nine individuals still unaccounted for, United Nations officials reported Thursday.
Just seven passengers managed to survive the maritime disaster, according to the U.N. refugee agency’s announcement on X.
The exact timing of when the vessel overturned remains unknown.
According to the U.N. International Organization for Migration (IOM), rescue teams found survivors who had been floating at sea for multiple days, with some migrants perishing from starvation and dehydration.
The vessel had departed from Tobruk with Greece as its destination when it overturned approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of the coastal city, IOM reported. Recovery efforts involved Libya’s naval forces, coast guard units, and Red Crescent personnel.
Thursday social media posts from the Libyan Red Crescent included images of the rescue mission, showing personnel handling multiple bodies placed in black bags.
The health status of those who survived has not been disclosed.
Libya continues serving as a primary departure point for migrants escaping conflict and economic hardship across Africa and the Middle East. The nation descended into turmoil following the 2011 rebellion that resulted in longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi’s death.
Just weeks ago, over 80 migrants disappeared when their boat sank in central Mediterranean waters after leaving Libya’s coastline.
IOM reported in early April that 2026 marked the most lethal beginning to any year for Mediterranean crossings since 2014. The Central Mediterranean region alone recorded 765 deaths, representing approximately 150% more fatalities than the corresponding timeframe in the previous year.
IOM Director General Amy Pope recently told The Associated Press that the organization is documenting increasing numbers of migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sudan attempting Mediterranean crossings.
