ROME, (HAN) — At least one person has died and two others remain missing after a migrant boat carrying around 35 people capsized in the central Mediterranean, according to UNICEF’s coordinator in Italy. Somali nationals are among those involved in the tragedy.
The vessel reportedly departed from Libya and sank after spending two days at sea, UNICEF official Nicola Dell’Arciprete said on Sunday. Italian Coast Guard units launched a rescue operation on Friday near the island of Lampedusa, where they managed to save 11 people, including four unaccompanied children.
Rescuers also recovered the body of a pregnant woman, while several other passengers remain unaccounted for. Survivors and the recovered body were transported to Lampedusa for medical attention and identification.
Authorities believe the boat ran into difficulties due to rough seas and engine failure during its journey toward Europe. The exact number of missing migrants remains unclear.
Dell’Arciprete expressed deep concern over the rising number of migrant deaths in the central Mediterranean, describing it as “one of the deadliest migration routes in the world.” UNICEF and humanitarian partners have called for stronger search-and-rescue efforts and safer migration pathways to prevent further loss of life.
According to international agencies, hundreds of migrants — many from Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan — have perished this year attempting to cross from North Africa to Europe in search of safety and a better life.
