(MENAFN) The Italian Coast Guard successfully saved 91 irregular migrants and retrieved the remains of two others from a distressed vessel drifting near Lampedusa Island in the Mediterranean Sea, officials reported on Sunday.

According to a statement from the Coast Guard Command, the rescue mission began after a Frontex surveillance aircraft spotted the boat roughly 16 nautical miles (29.6 kilometers) off the coast of Lampedusa.

In response, two patrol boats were sent to the location, managing to secure the safety of 91 individuals aboard.

During the operation, rescuers discovered the bodies of two men inside the boat. The statement also noted that all survivors were transported to Lampedusa and handed over to medical personnel for health evaluations.

Data from Italy’s Interior Ministry reveals that 55,948 migrants have arrived in Italy by sea from the start of the year through October 17, a slight increase compared to 55,010 arrivals during the same timeframe last year.

The Central Mediterranean route — spanning Italy, Malta, Libya, and Tunisia — continues to be one of the busiest and most hazardous migration pathways into Europe.

Each year, many lives are lost due to overloaded boats, dehydration, suffocation, and exposure to engine fumes, as migrants undertake this perilous journey to reach European shores.

MENAFN20102025000045017167ID1110218816