Six people have died and 40 are missing following a boat disaster off the Italian island of Lampedusa. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, when a half-sunken dinghy was spotted by Italian police patrols near the islet of Lampione. The Italian coastguard managed to rescue 10 people, and the search for survivors resumed early the next morning. According to survivors, there were approximately 56 people on the vessel, which had left from Sfax in Tunisia and encountered difficulties due to adverse weather conditions. Six bodies were recovered and taken to Lampedusa, while six men and four women among the survivors were transferred to a reception center on the island.

Father Marco Pagniello, the director of the Italian unit for the Catholic church-run charity Caritas, stated, “The deaths in the Mediterranean of individuals seeking a more dignified future highlight our inability to imagine a future that offers hope and prospects for life.” He emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of those forced to leave their homes, particularly during times when conflicts prevail and the pursuit of peace remains a challenge. The wreck comes amidst an increase in the number of individuals arriving in Italy after crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa in search of refuge. This surge was particularly evident in January, with 3,368 people arriving compared to 2,258 in the same month the previous year. Most of those arriving towards the end of that month had departed from Libya, with whom Italy has a contentious pushback agreement. The rise in individuals arriving has been partly attributed to the arrest and subsequent release and deportation of Osama Najim, a Libyan warlord wanted for suspected war crimes, resulting in an outcry in Italy. According to the International Organisation for Migration, at least 248 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean in January and February, while approximately 2,300 have either died or gone missing during the crossing throughout 2024.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/19/boat-disaster-off-italian-island-of-lampedusa