In a devastating incident off the coast of Libya, at least four individuals lost their lives after two overcrowded migrant boats capsized on Saturday. The Libyan Red Crescent confirmed that the deceased were among 26 Bangladeshi nationals aboard one of the vessels. The fate of passengers on the second boat, which carried approximately 70 mostly Sudanese migrants, remains unclear as rescue efforts continue. The boats were traversing the central Mediterranean route, a perilous path between North Africa and Italy, which the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) has labeled as the ‘deadliest known migration route in the world.’ The vessels had departed from Al Khums, a port city in northwestern Libya. Disturbing images shared by the Libyan Red Crescent show rescue workers providing aid to survivors and black body bags lined up on the shore. This tragedy underscores the ongoing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, where hundreds perish annually in unsafe and overcrowded boats. According to IOM data, more than 1,500 people have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean in 2025 alone, with a significant portion of these incidents occurring off Libya’s coast. Libya remains a primary departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe, with nearly 59,000 individuals arriving via this route this year, as reported by Frontex, the EU’s border security agency. Earlier this week, another boat carrying migrants from Libya capsized, leaving dozens missing and presumed dead. Seven survivors from Sudan, Somalia, Cameroon, and Nigeria were rescued after enduring nearly a week adrift at sea.