Two boats sink in Lampedusa, Italy leaving at least 26 dead and others missing
The UN's International Organisation for Migration (IOM) confirmed that the boats were carrying more than 90 people when they ran into trouble during the journey from Libya to southern Europe.
Sixty survivors were rescued, while search teams continue to comb the area for others still missing.
An Italian law enforcement aircraft first spotted one of the overturned boats about 23 kilometres off Lampedusa, with bodies visible in the water.
The discovery triggered a large-scale rescue involving five ships, two planes and a helicopter.
Lampedusa mayor Filippo Mannino said the disaster likely occurred in the early hours of the morning.
The central Mediterranean route remains one of the world's deadliest for migrants, with almost 24,500 people dying or disappearing in the crossing over the past decade, according to IOM data.
One survivor, a woman from Somalia, told Italy's La Repubblica newspaper she had lost her husband and one-year-old daughter during the chaos.
'Everything turned to panic,' she recounted.
'I never saw them again, my little girl slipped away, and I lost them both.'
The cause of the sinkings remains under investigation.
Survivors reported that after the first vessel went down, its passengers tried to climb aboard a second boat made of fibre glass, which then also capsized under the weight.
Filippo Ungaro, a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency in Italy, said that since January, at least 675 people have died attempting the central Mediterranean crossing.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose government has introduced tougher measures targeting human smuggling and pledged to curb sea arrivals, said the incident highlighted deeper issues.
'Today's tragedy unfolded despite a fully mobilised rescue effort, it showed that saving lives at sea is not enough – we must address the root causes driving these journeys.'
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Sky News AU
8 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Two boats sink in Lampedusa, Italy leaving at least 26 dead and others missing
Two boats have capsized off the Italian island of Lampedusa, leaving at least 26 people dead in one of the latest tragedies on the perilous Mediterranean crossing. The UN's International Organisation for Migration (IOM) confirmed that the boats were carrying more than 90 people when they ran into trouble during the journey from Libya to southern Europe. Sixty survivors were rescued, while search teams continue to comb the area for others still missing. An Italian law enforcement aircraft first spotted one of the overturned boats about 23 kilometres off Lampedusa, with bodies visible in the water. The discovery triggered a large-scale rescue involving five ships, two planes and a helicopter. Lampedusa mayor Filippo Mannino said the disaster likely occurred in the early hours of the morning. The central Mediterranean route remains one of the world's deadliest for migrants, with almost 24,500 people dying or disappearing in the crossing over the past decade, according to IOM data. One survivor, a woman from Somalia, told Italy's La Repubblica newspaper she had lost her husband and one-year-old daughter during the chaos. 'Everything turned to panic,' she recounted. 'I never saw them again, my little girl slipped away, and I lost them both.' The cause of the sinkings remains under investigation. Survivors reported that after the first vessel went down, its passengers tried to climb aboard a second boat made of fibre glass, which then also capsized under the weight. Filippo Ungaro, a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency in Italy, said that since January, at least 675 people have died attempting the central Mediterranean crossing. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose government has introduced tougher measures targeting human smuggling and pledged to curb sea arrivals, said the incident highlighted deeper issues. 'Today's tragedy unfolded despite a fully mobilised rescue effort, it showed that saving lives at sea is not enough – we must address the root causes driving these journeys.'
West Australian
2 days ago
- West Australian
At least 26 dead as migrant boat capsizes off Italy: UN
A boat carrying nearly 100 migrants has capsized in international waters off the Italian island of Lampedusa, killing at least 26 people and leaving another dozen missing, the Italian coast guard and the United Nations refugee agency say. Sixty survivors have been brought to a centre in Lampedusa, UNHCR spokesman Filippo Ungaro said. According to survivor accounts, there were 92 to 97 migrants on board when the boat departed Libya. Authorities were still searching for any remaining survivors. The coast guard said in a statement that the death toll stood at 26, but was still 'provisional and being updated'. Based on survivor accounts, about 95 migrants left Libya on two boats, International Organisation for Migration spokesperson Flavio Di Giacomo said. When one of the two vessels started to take on water, all the passengers were transferred to the other boat — made of fibreglass — which then capsized because of overloading, he said. It was not immediately known how long the migrants had been at sea. Lampedusa mayor Filippo Mannino said that the shipwreck happened 'presumably at dawn'. So far this year, 675 migrants have died making the perilous central Mediterranean crossing, not counting the latest sinking, according to the UN refugee agency. 'Deep anguish over yet another shipwreck off the coast of Lampedusa, where UNHCR is now assisting the survivors,' Ungaro said on X. In the first six months of 2025, 30,060 refugees and migrants arrived in Italy by sea, a 16 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the UNHCR. The migration route from northern Africa to southern Europe is considered one of the most dangerous in the world, with almost 24,500 people dying or disappearing on the Mediterranean crossing in the past decade, according to the IOM. Most of the deaths have been attributed to small boats setting off from the coasts of Tunisia and Libya. The deadliest shipwreck off the coast of Lampedusa occurred on October 3, 2013 when a boat carrying over 500 migrants from Eritrea, Somalia and Ghana caught fire and capsized, killing at least 368 people. The tragedy prompted international calls for action to address the crisis.
Perth Now
2 days ago
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At least 26 dead as migrant boat capsizes off Italy: UN
A boat carrying nearly 100 migrants has capsized in international waters off the Italian island of Lampedusa, killing at least 26 people and leaving another dozen missing, the Italian coast guard and the United Nations refugee agency say. Sixty survivors have been brought to a centre in Lampedusa, UNHCR spokesman Filippo Ungaro said. According to survivor accounts, there were 92 to 97 migrants on board when the boat departed Libya. Authorities were still searching for any remaining survivors. The coast guard said in a statement that the death toll stood at 26, but was still 'provisional and being updated'. Based on survivor accounts, about 95 migrants left Libya on two boats, International Organisation for Migration spokesperson Flavio Di Giacomo said. When one of the two vessels started to take on water, all the passengers were transferred to the other boat — made of fibreglass — which then capsized because of overloading, he said. It was not immediately known how long the migrants had been at sea. Lampedusa mayor Filippo Mannino said that the shipwreck happened 'presumably at dawn'. So far this year, 675 migrants have died making the perilous central Mediterranean crossing, not counting the latest sinking, according to the UN refugee agency. 'Deep anguish over yet another shipwreck off the coast of Lampedusa, where UNHCR is now assisting the survivors,' Ungaro said on X. In the first six months of 2025, 30,060 refugees and migrants arrived in Italy by sea, a 16 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the UNHCR. The migration route from northern Africa to southern Europe is considered one of the most dangerous in the world, with almost 24,500 people dying or disappearing on the Mediterranean crossing in the past decade, according to the IOM. Most of the deaths have been attributed to small boats setting off from the coasts of Tunisia and Libya. The deadliest shipwreck off the coast of Lampedusa occurred on October 3, 2013 when a boat carrying over 500 migrants from Eritrea, Somalia and Ghana caught fire and capsized, killing at least 368 people. The tragedy prompted international calls for action to address the crisis.
