Around 50 Migrants Die After Boat Sinks in Central Mediterranean
ISTANBUL | 26 January 2026 (Updated 26 January 2026)
Around 50 migrants have died after a boat sank in the central Mediterranean Sea, according to a report published late Sunday by the Times of Malta.
The report is based on the account of a sole survivor, who was rescued from the sea by a cargo ship off the coast of Tunisia on Friday. Maltese authorities later transferred the man to Malta, where he received medical treatment.
Malta’s armed forces confirmed the rescue, stating that the survivor reported approximately 50 fatalities. According to his testimony, the migrants had departed from Tunisia and spent nearly 24 hours in the water after the vessel capsized.
In a separate statement, Alarm Phone, an independent organisation supporting migrants attempting to reach Europe, corroborated the account on social media platform X. The group confirmed that one survivor reached Malta and that dozens of others failed to survive the journey.
Broader Concerns Over Missing Migrants
Meanwhile, Alarm Phone reported earlier this month that around 150 migrants went missing in the central Mediterranean. These cases involved at least three boats that also departed from Tunisia.
However, authorities have not yet confirmed whether the vessel involved in the latest incident was linked to those earlier disappearances. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
The central Mediterranean continues to rank among the world’s deadliest migration routes, as migrants risk dangerous sea crossings in hopes of reaching European Union countries.
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