More than 70 people are reported missing at sea after a boat carrying irregular migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea capsized.
“Elchi” reports that a new migrant tragedy has occurred in the Central Mediterranean, located between Libya, Tunisia, Malta, and Italy, which is a main route for irregular migration.
According to information shared by the Italy-based NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans on the social media platform of the US-based company X, a wooden migrant boat, reportedly departed from Libya yesterday, capsized in the part of the Mediterranean Sea that falls within Libya’s search and rescue zone.
The post states that more than 70 people are missing at sea and 32 people have been rescued. The statement, which also criticizes European states’ approach to migration, says: “Another 70 people are missing at sea. We share the pain of the survivors, their families, and friends. This latest shipwreck is not a tragic accident, but rather the result of the policies of European governments that refuse to open legal and safe entry channels.”
According to Italy’s ANSA agency, the 32 rescued individuals and the bodies of 2 migrants found at sea were taken to Italy’s Lampedusa island by a patrol boat belonging to the Italian Coast Guard Command.
The report stated that some of the rescued migrants said there were 110 people on board the vessel.
Meanwhile, according to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 683 irregular migrants have gone missing in the Central Mediterranean from the beginning of the year until April 1.
On the other hand, according to data shared by the Italian Ministry of Interior, the number of irregular migrants crossing into the country by sea from the beginning of the year until April 3 was 6175. In the same period last year, the number of arriving irregular migrants was recorded as 9399.
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