Nineteen migrants lost their lives as Italy’s coast guard rescued 58 survivors from a malfunctioning boat attempting to cross from Libya to Europe. The tragedy, with most victims dying of hypothermia, underscores a spike in fatal incidents in the Mediterranean, according to IOM and MSF officials.
Rescued survivors, among them five children, were safely transported to Lampedusa, but concerns persist for the three missing individuals. The German group Sea-Watch highlights the escalating death toll at sea, with over 104 fatalities in a span of three days, including an incident off Turkey’s coast.
Sea-Watch described the conditions as dire, leaving migrants adrift without aid for days. IOM reported 643 deaths in the central Mediterranean this year, a dramatic toll. Adverse weather has compounded the peril, reducing departures from North Africa but exacerbating challenges for those braving the sea.
(With inputs from agencies.)