Libya/Kallar Syedan: Boat Tragedy off Libya Coast: 79 Dead, 28 Survivors Rescued

Kallar Syedan / Libya (Potohar.com — Ikram-ul-Haq Qureshi | 10 April 2026) — At least 79 peole lost their lives after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to travel illegally from Libya to Italy. A total of 28 افراد were rescued in what survivors described as a miraculous escape.

According to reports, dozens of the deceased belonged to Pakistani districts, including Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, and Hafizabad. Among the victims were two unmarried men from Kallar Syedan — Usama Bhatti, 25, and Mansoor Bhatti, 28 — who had embarked on the perilous journey hoping to reach Europe for a better future.

In a rare stroke of luck, 27-year-old Mirza Zain Latif, son of local political figure Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif, survived the حادثہ and safely reached an Italian island after being rescued.

Details reveal that human traffickers lured young men with promises of a better future in Europe, charging each individual between PKR 4 and 4.5 million. Due to increased crackdowns by authorities, agents reportedly altered routes. Victims were initially taken to Saudi Arabia under the pretence of performing Umrah in October last year, but instead of returning to Pakistan, they were transported onward to Libya, where they remained for several months.

On Friday night, around 105 migrants were packed into a boat departing from Libya towards Italy. After several hours at sea, the vessel overturned amid rough waves, leading to the tragic loss of 79 lives.

Rescue sources confirmed that survivors struggled in the sea for hours before being picked up by another vessel, which later informed Italian immigration authorities. The rescued individuals were shifted to hospitals for medical treatment.

So far, only two bodies have been recovered from the incident, while search operations continue. The tragedy highlights the ongoing dangers of illegal migration and the ruthless exploitation by human smuggling networks.