A migrant tragedy unfolded late Tuesday night in the Mediterranean after the Italian coast guard intercepted a distressed dinghy about 80 nautical miles south of Lampedusa, discovering 19 people dead and rescuing 58 survivors in treacherous sea conditions.
According to officials, the rescue took place inside the Libyan search‑and‑rescue zone, where the Italian coast guard was the only responder able to reach the vessel. Spokesperson Roberto D’Arrigo said the mission was carried out amid waves reaching 6-7 metres (20-23 feet), describing the conditions as “pretty extreme.”
D’Arrigo said the migrants likely departed from Libya and that the victims may have died from hypothermia, though formal verification is still pending. Survivors endured a 10‑hour journey before reaching Lampedusa, where they are now receiving medical care.
Lampedusa a tiny island closer to North Africa than mainland Italy remains the primary entry point into Europe for migrants attempting the dangerous Mediterranean crossing. Thousands have died on this route, most travelling in overcrowded, unseaworthy boats launched from Tunisia and Libya.
The latest tragedy follows a deadly shipwreck in August last year, when a vessel carrying nearly 100 migrants capsized in international waters off Lampedusa, killing at least 26 people.
As rescue agencies continue to face rough seas, limited resources and rising departures, the Mediterranean remains one of the world’s most perilous migration corridors.
+ There are no comments
Add yours