Ten migrants have tragically died and dozens more are feared missing following two separate shipwrecks off the coast of Italy, according to reports from a migrant rescue charity and the Italian coastguard on Monday.
The German aid group ResQship, posting on X (formerly known as Twitter), reported that rescuers found 10 bodies below deck on a wooden boat near Lampedusa. The rescue vessel Nadir, operated by ResQship, is currently caring for 51 survivors. Unfortunately, the rescue came too late for 10 people who perished below deck in the flooded lower section of the boat.
The incident involved 61 migrants in total. The crew managed to evacuate 51 individuals, including two unconscious people who had to be freed using an axe. ResQship stated that the lower deck was completely flooded, leading to the tragic deaths.
In a separate incident, Italy's coast guard is conducting a search operation off the coast of Calabria for migrants who went overboard after another shipwreck. Media reports suggest up to 60 migrants might be missing based on survivors' accounts.
The coastguard's rescue efforts began after receiving a distress signal from a French pleasure boat off the Italian coast. The French vessel had discovered a partially submerged boat and rescued 12 survivors, later transferring them to an Italian coast guard boat bound for the town of Roccella Ionica in southern Italy. Sadly, one of the 12 survivors died after reaching shore.
Reports from the ANSA news agency indicate that approximately 50 migrants are missing following this second shipwreck. Radio Radicale adds that the missing individuals are from Afghanistan and Iran, with a total of 64 migrants reported lost at sea.
Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities continue to search for the missing.