In a tragic incident off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa, at least 30 migrants are currently unaccounted for following two shipwrecks. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) revealed on Sunday that survivors recounted approximately 28 individuals lost at sea from one vessel, with an additional three missing from the second boat. These tragedies occurred in the wake of turbulent weather conditions on Saturday.
Both of the fragile iron boats are believed to have departed from Sfax in Tunisia on Thursday, aiming to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean. The severity of the situation has prompted an investigation to be launched in Agrigento, Sicily, to uncover the details surrounding these shipwrecks.
Simultaneously, on Sunday, rescue teams were diligently preparing to safely extract roughly 20 migrants who found themselves stranded on a rocky stretch of Lampedusa’s coastline. This group had been stranded there since late Friday, their vessel thrown onto the rocks by forceful winds.
The count of recovered bodies has surged, especially along the notorious Tunisian route, which has turned increasingly treacherous, partially due to the use of substandard boats. These boats, constructed from iron, are being employed by traffickers to transport sub-Saharan migrants across the sea. Although they cost less than wooden alternatives, they are frequently deemed unsuitable for such journeys and prone to breaking apart.
In another grievous aspect of this crisis, traffickers often strip the engines from these vessels while at sea, intending to reuse them in subsequent trafficking operations.
Regrettably, the Central Mediterranean crossing, which connects North Africa to Europe, holds the grim distinction of being the deadliest migration route globally. The toll continues to rise, with more than 1,800 lives lost in attempted crossings this year alone, as reported by officials. This figure represents an alarming increase of nearly 900 deaths compared to the previous year.