Libyan Coast Guard Rescues More Than 400 Migrants Off Tobruk After Deadly Capsizing

Minteesinot Niggusie

At least 10 migrants have died and 31 remain missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Tobruk in eastern Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration and three Libyan sources. Six bodies had earlier been recovered after washing ashore on Saturday, authorities said.

The incident was followed days later by a large-scale rescue operation in the same maritime area. Libya’s eastern-based coast guard, operating under the Libyan National Army, said it had rescued at least 404 migrants from 10 boats after they encountered harsh conditions at sea, the Tobruk Red Crescent reported on Wednesday.

The Red Crescent in Tobruk, a coastal city near Libya’s border with Egypt, said the rescued migrants came from multiple nationalities. It added that its volunteers provided first aid, food and blankets to those brought ashore, sharing images of the assistance on Facebook.

Libya continues to serve as a key transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe by sea. Many travel through the country from sub-Saharan Africa, undertaking dangerous journeys across desert routes before boarding overcrowded vessels in the Mediterranean in search of safety and better economic prospects.

The latest rescues and fatalities highlight the persistent risks along this route, where maritime crossings are frequently marked by vessel capsizing, disappearances and large-scale emergency responses by local authorities and humanitarian groups.

Migrant crossings often experience increased activity during calmer marine weather, despite the immense risks.