In a dramatic and tragic turn of events, the Italian Coast Guard rescued 57 migrants from two boats that capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, resulting in the loss of two lives. The incident occurred late at night, approximately 23 nautical miles south of the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, where the migrants were attempting to reach Italian shores.
According to eyewitnesses, approximately 30 migrants were left missing after the two vessels, believed to have departed from Sfax, Tunisia on Thursday, capsized in the rough seas. The survivors, who were rescued by the Coast Guard, reported that 28 people were missing from one of the boats, while three were reported missing from the other. The Coast Guard also recovered the bodies of a young boy and a woman, who tragically lost their lives in the disaster.
Meanwhile, a separate group of migrants, numbering around 34, had been stranded on jagged rocks near Lampedusa for over two days, clinging to their lives for dear life. Despite strong winds and powerful waves, the Coast Guard and an Alpine and Cave Rescue group worked together to rescue the stranded migrants, using a helicopter to airlift them to safety. Among the rescued was a woman who was eight months pregnant, and was taken to a hospital for medical attention.
The incident has highlighted the harrowing and often deadly conditions faced by migrants attempting to reach Italy’s shores. According to Flavio Di Giacomo, a spokesperson for the UN migration agency IOM, the Mediterranean crossing has become increasingly deadly in recent years, with a total of 1,814 migrants known to have perished while attempting the journey. The situation is particularly dire for those setting out from Tunisia, where flimsy and fragile vessels are being used, resulting in a higher risk of capsizing and drowning.
Italian Coast Guard Rescues Migrants Amidst Deadly Conditions
The Italian government has acknowledged the crisis, with Ignazio Schintu, an official of the Italian Red Cross, stating that to date, 2,450 migrants are currently housed at Lampedusa’s temporary residence, which has a capacity of approximately 400. Once the sea conditions improve, Italy is expected to resume ferrying migrants to Sicily to ease the overcrowding.
The incident has also raised concerns about the role of smugglers, who are believed to be responsible for the capsizing of the two boats. According to Di Giacomo, it is “even more criminal” for smugglers to continue putting the lives of migrants at risk, given the forecast of bad weather conditions on Saturday.
The rescue efforts are a stark reminder of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Mediterranean, where thousands of migrants are attempting to reach Europe in search of safety and asylum. The incident highlights the need for increased support and cooperation among governments, aid agencies, and international organizations to address the root causes of migration and provide a safer and more humane response to the crisis.
