A tragedy struck off the coast of Italy as two separate shipwrecks left 64 people missing in the Mediterranean Sea and 10 others dead. The incidents, which occurred on Monday, have sparked rescue efforts to save dozens of suspected migrants.
Italian Coast Guard/Guardia Costiera.
According to a statement by the United Nations agencies, the first shipwreck took place approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) off the coast of Calabria. The vessel, which had set off from Turkey eight days earlier, caught fire and overturned. Survivors reported that the people on board came from Iran, Syria, and Iraq.
The Italian coast guard initiated a search-and-rescue operation following a Mayday call from a French boat. The operation involved merchant vessels diverted to the scene and assets from the European border and coast guard agency Frontex. Survivors were brought to the Calabrian port of Roccella Jonica for medical care, but one of the 11 rescued individuals died shortly after.
In a separate incident, the German aid group Resqship discovered a wooden boat in distress off the tiny island of Lampedusa. The crew of the Nadir, Resqship’s boat, found 61 people on board, with the vessel full of water. They managed to evacuate 51 individuals, two of whom were unconscious. Tragically, 10 bodies were found trapped in the flooded lower deck of the boat.
These devastating shipwrecks highlight the ongoing crisis of migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of safety and a better life. The international community must come together to address the root causes of migration and ensure the safety and dignity of those undertaking these perilous journeys.
