View source for 2023 Libya migrant boat disasters

{{Short description|Nautical disasters in the Mediterranean}}
{{Infobox event
| title = 2023 Libya migrant boats sinking
| image = File:Sabratha (43) (8289830554).jpg
| caption = View at Sabratha towards Mediterranean Sea
| date = 25 April & 16 December 2023
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| place = Off the coast of western [[Libya]]
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| casualties1 = 57 dead (April)
| casualties2 = 61 dead (December)
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On 25 April 2023, two migrant boats bound for Europe capsized off the coast of western [[Libya]], claiming at least 57 lives. Until the [[2023 Messenia migrant boat disaster]] in June, it represented the deadliest migrant sea crossing in the last six years.<ref name="aljazeera">{{cite web | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/25/dozens-bodies-washed-ashore-after-boats-sink-libya-coast | title=Dozens of bodies wash ashore after boats sink off Libya coast |website=www.aljazeera.com |date=25 April 2023 |access-date=12 August 2024}}</ref>

On 16 December 2023, 61 migrants drowned when a boat carrying 86 capsized.<ref name=T>{{cite web |last1=AP |first1=SAMY MAGDY / |title=Over 60 People Drown After Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Libya |url=https://time.com/6548493/migrant-boat-capsizes-libya-death-toll/ |website=TIME |access-date=12 August 2024 |language=en |date=17 December 2023}}</ref> 

==Background==
The central Mediterranean route became the world's most dangerous migrant sea crossing in early 2023, according to the [[International Organisation for Migration]], when 441 individuals drowned while attempting to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa to Europe.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.sky.com/story/70-bodies-pulled-from-mediterranean-and-1-200-people-rescued-after-boats-capsize-trying-to-reach-europe-12865782 | title=70 bodies pulled from Mediterranean and 1,200 people rescued after boats capsize trying to reach Europe |website=news.sky.com |date= |access-date=12 August 2024}}</ref>

==April==
Two boats capsized in separate incidents off the Libyan coast. The first boat capsized close to [[Garabulli]], killing 11 migrants and leaving the whereabouts of the rest uncertain. Four survivors who were saved by the [[Libyan Coast Guard]] said that the boat was carrying around 80 people of various nationalities.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/483841-11-dead-as-ship-carrying-migrants-sinks-off-libya | title=11 dead as ship carrying over 80 migrants sinks near Libya |website=www.geo.tv |date= |access-date=12 August 2024}}</ref> 46 bodies have been recovered since the second boat sank off the coast of [[Sabratha]], and more are anticipated to wash ashore in the coming days.<ref name="aljazeera"/>

==December==
On 16 December 2023, a boat carrying 86 migrants sank off [[Zuwarah]]; 61 of them drowned.<ref name=T/>

==Italian rescues==
Between 24 and 26 April 2023, Italy has rescued 47 boats in the central Mediterranean Sea carrying over 1,600 migrants, bringing them to the island of [[Lampedusa]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thearabweekly.com/hundreds-migrants-reach-italian-shores-while-scores-are-lost-sea | title=Hundreds of migrants reach Italian shores while scores are lost at sea &#124; |website=thearabweekly.com |date= |access-date=12 August 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{2023 shipwrecks}}

[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2023|Libya migrant boats sinking, 2023]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in Libya]]
[[Category:Migrant crises]]
[[Category:Migrant boat disasters in the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:Sabratha]]
[[Category:Illegal immigration to Europe]]
[[Category:April 2023 events in Libya|Libya migrant boats sinking, 2023]]
[[Category:2023 disasters in Libya|Libya migrant boats sinking, 2023]]