Over 50 migrants dead in boat sinking off southern Italy
Date
2/27/2023 5:06:47 AM
(MENAFN) At least 59 migrants, including 12 children, have lost their lives and dozens more are feared missing after their boat sank in rough seas off southern Italy. The vessel broke apart while attempting to land near Crotone on Sunday, and migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Iran were on board. Italian officials have confirmed that a baby was among the dead.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who visited the scene, said that as many as 30 people may still be missing. Bodies were recovered from the beach at a nearby seaside resort in the Calabria region.
The coastguard reported that 80 people were found alive, "including some who managed to reach the shore after the sinking". However, the exact number of people who were on the boat, which had sailed from Turkey several days ago, is not clear. Rescue workers told the AFP news agency that the vessel had been carrying "more than 200 people", which would mean more than 60 people are unaccounted for.
Many of the migrants were fleeing very difficult conditions, Italy's president said. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed his concern about reports that more than two dozen Pakistanis were among the dead, and called on Pakistan's diplomats to "ascertain facts as early as possible".
The vessel is reported to have sunk after it crashed against rocks during rough weather, sparking a large search-and-rescue operation on land and at sea. Video footage shows timber from the wreckage that had been smashed into pieces washing up on the beach, along with parts of the hull. Survivors are seen huddled under blankets, attended to by Red Cross workers. Some have been taken to the hospital.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed "deep sorrow" and blamed the deaths on traffickers. She said in a statement that "It is inhumane to exchange the lives of men, women, and children for the price of the 'ticket' they paid in the false perspective of a safe journey." Meloni's right-wing government has pledged to stop migrants reaching Italy's shores and in the last few days pushed through a tough new law tightening the rules on rescues.
Carlo Calenda, Italy's former economy minister, said people in difficulty at sea should be rescued "whatever the cost", but added that "illegal immigration routes must be closed". European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was "deeply saddened" by the incident, adding that the "loss of life of innocent migrants is a tragedy". She said it was crucial to "redouble our efforts" to make progress on reforming EU asylum rules to tackle the challenges regarding migration to Europe.
In a tragic reminder of the risks and dangers that migrants face in their attempt to reach Europe, this incident highlights the urgent need for coordinated international action to address the root causes of migration and ensure the safe passage of those seeking refuge.
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