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Sky News AU
a day ago
- General
- 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.'
STV News
2 days ago
- STV News
At least 26 people killed as boat carrying migrants capsizes off Italy
At least 26 people were killed after a boat carrying nearly 100 migrants capsized in international waters off the Italian island of Lampedusa, authorities say. Italy's coastguard said the death toll was still 'provisional and being updated' as rescuers continued to search for survivors. UNHCR, the United Nations' refugee agency, said 60 survivors were brought to a centre in Lampedusa following Wednesday's capsizing. Based on survivor accounts, about 95 migrants left Libya on two boats, International Organization 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 fiberglass — which then capsized because of overloading, he added. It wasn't 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% increase compared to the same period last year, according to 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 UN's International Organisation for Migration. 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. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni – who made combating illegal immigration a top priority of her right-wing government – pledged on Wednesday to continue fighting 'unscrupulous traffickers' by preventing irregular departures and managing migration flows. 'That today's tragedy occurred despite a ready and operational international response warns us that the necessary rescue effort is not sufficient and, above all, does not address the root causes of this tragic problem,' she said. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
At least 26 dead and a dozen missing after boat capsizes near Italian island
Five ships, two aircraft and a helicopter were deployed in the ongoing search for more survivors BOAT HORROR At least 26 dead and a dozen missing after boat capsizes near Italian island AT least 26 people are dead and a dozen missing after a packed migrant boat capsized off Italy's Lampedusa island. Sixty survivors were pulled from the water and taken to a Lampedusa reception centre, with four rushed to hospital, according to the Italian Red Cross and UN agencies. 3 Italian Coast Guard officers and members of the Italian Finance Police carry a body bag on the dock after a migrant shipwreck on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa Credit: Reuters 3 Migrant survivors stand on the dock after Wednesday's shipwreck Credit: Reuters 3 Coffins lie next to a vehicle on the dock after a migrant shipwreck on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa Credit: Reuters The disaster struck early Wednesday when an Italian law enforcement aircraft spotted the overturned vessel and bodies in the water around 14 miles from Lampedusa. Rescue crews are still scouring the waters with five ships, two aircraft and a helicopter in a race against time to find the missing. Officials warn the death toll - currently at 26 - is expected to rise as hopes fade for those unaccounted for. The coastguard said the death toll remains 'provisional and being updated.' Survivor accounts suggest between 92 and 97 people were on board when the boat departed Libya. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said the group originally set off on two vessels from the Tripoli area. When one began taking on water, all passengers were crammed into a fibreglass boat which later capsized in international waters due to overloading. 'It is not immediately known how long the migrants had been at sea,' Lampedusa mayor Filippo Mannino said, adding the tragedy happened 'presumably at dawn.' Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who has made tackling illegal immigration a key priority, vowed to keep fighting 'unscrupulous traffickers' by 'preventing irregular departures' and 'managing migration flows.' She said: 'When a tragedy like this occurs, with the deaths of dozens of people in the waters of the Mediterranean, a strong sense of dismay and compassion arises in all of us. Huge wildfires spread across Brit tourist hotspots with hotels evacuated 'by the minute' as holidaymakers flee resorts 'That today's tragedy occurred despite a ready and operational international response warns us that the necessary rescue effort is not sufficient and, above all, does not address the root causes of this tragic problem.' So far this year, 675 migrants have died making the perilous central Mediterranean crossing — not including the latest sinking. In the past decade, almost 24,500 people have died or gone missing on the route, the IOM says. The sinking is the latest in a string of deadly tragedies on the central Mediterranean route, one of the world's most perilous migration corridors. Most boats depart from Libya or Tunisia, often crammed far beyond capacity and with little chance of surviving rough seas. The deadliest shipwreck off Lampedusa happened 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. The latest sinking comes a day after UK government figures showed more than 50,000 migrants have crossed the Channel from France since Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
At least 26 dead and a dozen missing after boat capsizes near Italian island
BOAT HORROR At least 26 dead and a dozen missing after boat capsizes near Italian island Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AT least 26 people are dead and a dozen missing after a packed migrant boat capsized off Italy's Lampedusa island. Sixty survivors were pulled from the water and taken to a Lampedusa reception centre, with four rushed to hospital, according to the Italian Red Cross and UN agencies. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Italian Coast Guard officers and members of the Italian Finance Police carry a body bag on the dock after a migrant shipwreck on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa Credit: Reuters 2 Migrant survivors stand on the dock after Wednesday's shipwreck Credit: Reuters The disaster struck early Wednesday when an Italian law enforcement aircraft spotted the overturned vessel and bodies in the water around 14 miles from Lampedusa. Five ships, two aircraft and a helicopter were deployed in the ongoing search for more survivors. The coastguard said the death toll remains 'provisional and being updated.' Survivor accounts suggest between 92 and 97 people were on board when the boat departed Libya. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said the group originally set off on two vessels from the Tripoli area. When one began taking on water, all passengers were crammed into a fibreglass boat which later capsized in international waters due to overloading. 'It is not immediately known how long the migrants had been at sea,' Lampedusa mayor Filippo Mannino said, adding the tragedy happened 'presumably at dawn.' Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who has made tackling illegal immigration a key priority, vowed to keep fighting 'unscrupulous traffickers' by 'preventing irregular departures' and 'managing migration flows.' She said: 'When a tragedy like this occurs, with the deaths of dozens of people in the waters of the Mediterranean, a strong sense of dismay and compassion arises in all of us. 'That today's tragedy occurred despite a ready and operational international response warns us that the necessary rescue effort is not sufficient and, above all, does not address the root causes of this tragic problem.' So far this year, 675 migrants have died making the perilous central Mediterranean crossing — not including the latest sinking. In the past decade, almost 24,500 people have died or gone missing on the route, the IOM says. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
ITV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
At least 26 people killed as boat carrying migrants capsizes off Italy
At least 26 people were killed after a boat carrying nearly 100 migrants capsized in international waters off the Italian island of Lampedusa, authorities say. Italy's coastguard said the death toll was still 'provisional and being updated" as rescuers continued to search for survivors. UNHCR, the United Nations' refugee agency, said 60 survivors were brought to a centre in Lampedusa following Wednesday's capsizing. Based on survivor accounts, about 95 migrants left Libya on two boats, International Organization 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 fiberglass — which then capsized because of overloading, he added. It wasn't 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% increase compared to the same period last year, according to 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 UN's International Organisation for Migration. 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. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni – who made combating illegal immigration a top priority of her right-wing government – pledged on Wednesday to continue fighting 'unscrupulous traffickers" by preventing irregular departures and managing migration flows. 'That today's tragedy occurred despite a ready and operational international response warns us that the necessary rescue effort is not sufficient and, above all, does not address the root causes of this tragic problem,' she said.
