At least 11 dead and dozens missing in shipwrecks off Italian coast
Rome: Two tragic shipwrecks occurred on Monday along the Italian coast, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 migrants, with 66 others still missing, as reported by Italian authorities.
The incidents prompted an ongoing search and rescue operation by Italy's coast guard in the Mediterranean. The first shipwreck involved a wooden sailboat found in distress about 120 miles off Calabria, southern Italy, which was initially aided by a merchant ship that rescued 12 people. Sadly, one woman passed away shortly after being rescued due to severe medical conditions.
The Italian coast guard promptly intervened, deploying two patrol boats and an ATR42 aircraft to search for survivors. Despite these efforts, no additional survivors had been located as of Monday evening. Tragically, among those feared dead are 26 minors, according to reports from medical sources.
According to the survivors' statement, the sailing boat departed from Turkey last week, carrying migrants and refugee seekers from Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Afghanistan.
Italian prosecutors have launched an investigation into the shipwreck, the latest in a long string of deadly incidents involving economic migrants and refugees attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean.
In a separate incident near Malta, a rescue ship managed by the German aid group Resqship discovered 10 deceased migrants and successfully rescued 51 others from a distressed vessel. Survivors aboard were primarily from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, and Syria, and they were directed by the Italian Interior Ministry to disembark in Lampedusa for necessary assistance.
The treacherous conditions in the central Mediterranean pose significant risks to migrants traveling by boat, contributing to high mortality rates due to adverse weather and substandard vessels.
Nearly one thousand people have died or disappeared crossing the Mediterranean so far this year, and 3,155 in 2023, according to the United Nations' International Organization for Migration. IANS