Approximately fifty migrants reported lost following maritime mishap in the Mediterranean Sea.
In the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, a tragic boating mishap unfolds. A boat filled with numerous individuals sank off the Italian region of Calabria's coast, as per the Coast Guard, during the transition from Sunday to Monday. According to AP news (ANSA), survivors of the accident claim around 50 individuals may be unaccounted for. The Coast Guard remains tight-lipped about the exact number of missing persons, only acknowledging ongoing searches for possible victims.
A nearby freighter offered assistance to the struggling migrant vessel and retrieved a dozen souls from the partially submerged boat, as reported by the Coast Guard. The survivors were then delivered to the Coast Guard and escorted to Roccella Ionica's harbor in Calabria. Unfortunately, one of the twelve rescued individuals passed away shortly after arrival. The search and rescue operations in the area are reportedly being conducted by the Coast Guard and teams from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex.
This dilapidated vessel likely began its journey from Turkey. Desperate individuals frequently use boats to navigate the central Mediterranean in an attempt to reach Lampedusa, Malta, Sicily, or the Italian mainland. Such maritime disasters regrettably lead to deaths and disappearances on occasion. As per the Italian Interior Ministry's records, over 23,700 people have made it to Italy via boat this year. This number pales in comparison to the approximately 55,900 who reached Italy in the previous fiscal year.
