A tragic incident unfolded as a boat, carrying dozens of migrants attempting to reach Europe, capsized off the coast of Libya, resulting in the death of over 60 people, including women and children, according to the United Nations migration agency.

The shipwreck on Saturday is the latest in a series of tragedies in the Mediterranean Sea, a perilous route for migrants seeking a better life in Europe, where thousands have lost their lives. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency, reported that the boat, carrying 86 migrants, succumbed to strong waves near the town of Zuwara on Libya's western coast. Of the passengers, 61 tragically drowned, as reported by survivors.

The IOM highlighted the persistently perilous nature of the central Mediterranean route, stating that it remains one of the world's most dangerous migration paths. Flavio Di Giacomo, an IOM spokesperson, revealed that over 2,250 people lost their lives on this route in the current year.

According to the IOM's missing migrants project, between January 1 and November 18, at least 940 migrants were reported dead and 1,248 missing off Libya. The project, which monitors migration movements, noted that over 14,900 migrants, including more than 1,000 women and over 530 children, were intercepted and returned to Libya in the same period.

In 2022, the project documented 529 fatalities and 848 individuals reported missing off Libya, with over 24,600 intercepted and returned to the country.