Four Migrant Boats in Distress After Leaving Libya's Tobruk

Libya Review

24-05-2025

On Saturday, the Libyan Rescue Coordination Center raised serious concerns over the fate of several migrant boats that departed from the eastern city of Tobruk in recent days, heading toward the Greek island of Crete.
In a statement, the center confirmed that it had received four separate distress calls from boats currently in what it described as a 'very critical condition.'
One of the boats, carrying approximately 50 people, reportedly experienced engine failure and began taking on water. The center warned that without immediate rescue, the vessel could sink. The exact number of people aboard the other three boats remains unclear, but all four are believed to be carrying migrants attempting to cross the central Mediterranean.
In addition to the four distress cases, the center is monitoring a fifth vessel detected on radar, which has not issued a mayday call but appears to be following the same migration route. Its status remains unknown, but its movement and location have raised concerns, prompting continued surveillance.
The Libyan rescue authority expressed frustration at what it sees as a delayed or absent response from the Greek Coast Guard, despite the serious and life-threatening nature of the emergencies. It urged Greek authorities and international partners to intervene swiftly to prevent loss of life.
This latest incident adds to growing concerns over the deteriorating conditions for migrants attempting to reach Europe from Libya's eastern shores. The port city of Tobruk has become a departure point for many irregular crossings in recent months, often involving overloaded wooden boats with poor navigation systems and no safety infrastructure.
The Libyan center called for immediate international coordination, including involvement from Greek maritime authorities, European rescue missions, and humanitarian organizations, to avert a potential disaster in the Mediterranean.