Migrant tragedy off Lampedusa island leaves at least 20 dead
Latest News: Tragedy Off the Coast of Lampedusa, Italy
A heart-wrenching incident has unfolded off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy, where a migrant boat carrying around 100 individuals capsized, resulting in at least 26 fatalities and leaving more than a dozen people missing.
According to reports, the boat departed from Libya and capsized due to overloading. The incident was first spotted by a plane from Italy's financial police, prompting a swift rescue operation involving five ships, two aircraft, and a helicopter. Approximately 60 survivors were rescued and taken to a center in Lampedusa for assistance.
The Mayor of Lampedusa, Filippo Mannino, reported that the shipwreck occurred "presumably at dawn." Filippo Ungaro, from the UN's refugee agency UNHCR, expressed "deep anguish" over the disaster. He also pointed out that more migrants could still be missing at sea.
This tragedy is part of a larger migrant crisis in the Mediterranean. In the first six months of 2025, 30,060 refugees and migrants arrived in Italy by sea, marking a 16% increase from the previous year. This route has become notorious for its dangers, with over 25,260 deaths or disappearances since 2014. So far in 2025, excluding this latest incident, 675 migrants have died attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean.
The Italian Ministry of the Interior did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the incident. However, Italian and EU authorities have pledged to continue efforts to combat illegal migration and address the root causes of these tragedies.
The October 2013 tragedy, which involved a boat carrying over 500 migrants, prompted international calls for action to address the crisis. Almost 24,500 people have died or disappeared on the Mediterranean crossing in the past ten years, according to the International Organisation for Migration.
Among the missing is a baby girl, aged 18 months, adding a poignant note to this ongoing crisis. The international community continues to express concern and pledge support in addressing this pressing issue.
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