At least 26 individuals are killed in a migrant wreck off Italy’s southern island of Lampedusa on Wednesday, and 60 others are rescued, Italy’s coastguard confirmed. The death toll is still provisional as search operations are being carried out in difficult sea conditions.
The coastguard said that the migrants left the Tripoli region of Libya early on Wednesday on two boats. The survivors said that one boat started taking on water, leading to a transfer onto the second. That second boat then turned over in choppy seas.
Rescue operations were initiated promptly, with five vessels, two planes, and one helicopter sent to the scene. The UNHCR puts the initial group at 92 to 97 individuals.
Survivors in Stable Condition
Cristina Palma from the Italian Red Cross in Lampedusa explained the 56 men and four women they rescued were in “good” health, although four were hospitalized for precautionary tests. She emphasized that the survivors had gone through a harrowing experience in perilous waters.
The disaster contributes to an increasing number of fatal occurrences on the central Mediterranean route. In the past month since January, at least 675 individuals have lost their lives in trying to make the treacherous journey, reported UNHCR spokesperson Filippo Ungaro. The route, one of the world’s most dangerous migrant routes, hosts thousands of people annually attempting to enter Europe from North Africa.
Government Vows Crackdown on Smugglers
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government has pledged to curb irregular migration and toughen penalties for human smugglers. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi wrote on X that the latest shipwreck “confirms the urgent need” to prevent illegal departures and intensify the fight against trafficking networks.
While rescue teams keep searching the sea off Lampedusa, authorities caution that the number of casualties could increase. For the time being, the island is at the epicentre of yet another migration crisis in the Mediterranean.
