The UN’s migration agency has confirmed that hundreds of migrants are missing or feared dead following multiple shipwrecks in the central Mediterranean over the past 10 days. Severe weather, including Cyclone Harry, has severely hampered search and rescue operations, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Immediate Action & Core Facts
The IOM reported three confirmed shipwrecks on January 23 and 25, with at least 104 deaths verified. Survivors from one wreck near Lampedusa, Italy, described how three people—including twin girls—died of hypothermia. Another vessel, which departed Tunisia on January 20, capsized, leaving only one survivor, who clung to wreckage for 24 hours before rescue.
Italian authorities estimate that up to 380 people may have drowned after eight boats launched from Tunisia during the storm. The IOM is verifying reports of additional wrecks, including one near Malta where 50 people are feared dead and another off Libya with 51 fatalities.
Deeper Dive & Context
Weather and Rescue Challenges
Cyclone Harry’s violent storms generated massive waves, making navigation perilous and complicating rescue efforts. The IOM condemned smugglers for sending overcrowded, unseaworthy boats despite the dangerous conditions, calling the practice "criminal."
Policy and Political Responses
Italy’s far-right government has reduced NGO rescue operations in the Mediterranean, imposing fines and mandating disembarkations at distant ports. Despite these measures, migrant arrivals in 2025 (66,296) remain high, though lower than in 2023. The IOM emphasized that the central Mediterranean remains the deadliest migration corridor in the world.
Survivor Accounts and Ongoing Investigations
Survivors from one wreck reported that another boat departed simultaneously but never arrived. The IOM is investigating these claims, along with reports of additional missing vessels. Alarm Phone, a migrant distress hotline, confirmed the Lampedusa wreck’s survivor account, noting the boat’s departure from Tunisia on January 20.
The IOM stressed the need for urgent action to prevent further tragedies, highlighting the human cost of smuggling operations and the dangers of sea crossings amid extreme weather.