(MENAFN) Italian authorities reported on Sunday that the Coast Guard successfully rescued 91 irregular migrants and recovered the bodies of two men from a distressed vessel drifting near Lampedusa Island in the Mediterranean Sea.

According to a statement from the Coast Guard Command, the operation began after a Frontex surveillance plane spotted the boat approximately 16 nautical miles (29.6 kilometers) from Lampedusa. Two patrol vessels were sent to the location and managed to bring 91 individuals safely on board.

The statement added, “During the intervention, the bodies of two men were also found inside the boat,” noting that all survivors were transported to Lampedusa and received medical attention.

Italy’s Interior Ministry reported that 55,948 migrants have reached the country by sea from the start of the year through October 17, a slight increase compared with 55,010 arrivals during the same period last year.

The Central Mediterranean route — linking Italy, Malta, Libya, and Tunisia — continues to be one of the busiest and most hazardous migration corridors to Europe. Overcrowded vessels, dehydration, suffocation, and engine fumes persist as major threats, claiming numerous lives annually as migrants attempt the treacherous crossing.

MENAFN20102025000045017281ID1110219513