Italy shipwreck leaves 26 migrants dead
Two boats that sank near Italy’s Lampedusa island have resulted in at least 26 migrant deaths, with the coast guard and UN officials reporting that 10 people remain missing, Arab News reported via AFP on August 13th.
The tragedy led to around 60 people being rescued after the vessels capsized in the central Mediterranean, the stretch of sea between North Africa and Italy. Previously, the UN has commented that the route is one of the most perilous sea crossings in the world for migrants.
According to the Italian coast guard, the boats departed from Libya’s Tripoli in the morning. During the journey, one vessel began taking on water, prompting passengers to climb onto the second boat, which eventually overturned.
While 60 people were safely brought to Lampedusa, the coast guard confirmed that more than 26 people lost their lives, and others are still missing. Among the survivors, 56 are men and four are women, reported Italy’s Red Cross.
Flavio Di Giacomo, spokesperson for the UN’s migration agency (IOM), noted that the boats carried around 95 migrants, with roughly 35 dead or missing.
Italy’s ANSA news agency reported that the bodies of a newborn, three children, two men, and two women were transported to the Lampedusa mortuary.
Tunisia and Lampedusa are located only 90 miles (145 kilometres) away from each other, meaning it is often the first European landing point for migrants travelling in overcrowded vessels. The Italian authorities continue to attempt to intercept the boats before they reach land.
A Italian police helicopter was the first to locate one of the capsized boats, roughly 14 nautical miles off Lampedusa. Search operations were then conducted by the EU’s Frontex border agency.
Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, Libya’s Prime Minister, has underscored the urgency of the issue, warning that human trafficking networks and armed groups exploiting migration threaten both national and regional security.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni extended her “deepest condolences” to the victims and promised tougher action against migrant traffickers.
The UNHCR refugee agency reported 675 migrant deaths on the central Mediterranean route so far this year. The interior ministry asserted that in 2025, roughly 38,263 migrants have landed on Italy’s shores.
World leaders continue to confront the challenges of illegal immigration in the Mediterranean, seeking opportunities for deeper cooperation among nations.
Arab News via AFP, Maghrebi.org
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