MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Tragedy struck as a migrant vessel capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, claiming the lives of eight individuals, including a child.
The Italian Coast Guard conducted a rescue operation, successfully saving 23 people, as reported by Italy’s ANSA news agency.
The boat sank approximately 55 kilometers (34 miles) southeast of Lampedusa Island in international waters.
Though the rescued individuals mentioned others missing, the exact number remains uncertain.
Some of the deceased succumbed to hypothermia, adding to the grim toll of the accident.
Lampedusa Mayor Filippo Mannino lamented yet another maritime tragedy afflicting their island, emphasizing the dire situation caused by human traffickers who send desperate people on unseaworthy vessels.
Mannino remarked, “Today, we retrieved eight bodies, including that of a young girl. This relentless cycle of loss weighs heavily on us. The treacherous sea conditions persist, and human traffickers persist in exploiting the vulnerable. Too often, these journeys end in tragedy.”
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 385 migrants have perished in the central Mediterranean since the start of the year until April 8.
Italy’s Interior Ministry reports a significant decrease in irregular migrant arrivals by sea compared to the same period last year, with 15,774 arrivals recorded from January 1 to April 10.
Despite efforts to curb irregular migration, the perilous journey across the central Mediterranean remains a grim reality for many seeking refuge in Europe from Africa.
