Survivors have revealed that a shipwreck off the coast of Lampedusa Island, Italy, has tragically claimed the lives of 41 migrants , according to a report from local media.
Four survivors, hailing from Ivory Coast and Guinea, managed to reach Lampedusa and shared their harrowing experience with the Coast Guard.
They revealed that a total of 45 individuals, including three children, embarked from Sfax at 10 am on Thursday. Unfortunately, the boat overturned due to a powerful wave, leading to all passengers being thrown into the sea.
Distressingly, even the fifteen individuals who were equipped with life jackets succumbed to the tragedy.
This incident follows two additional shipwrecks that occurred near Lampedusa over the weekend, resulting in the loss of life, including that of a mother and her infant.
The challenging sea conditions in the Strait of Sicily have hindered rescue efforts by Italian Coast Guard vessels, which have been striving to assist stranded migrants.
Recent days have witnessed an influx of over 2,000 individuals arriving in Lampedusa after being rescued by Italian patrol boats and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at sea.
Italy is grappling with a significant surge in sea migration, with nearly 92,000 arrivals documented this year as of the latest interior ministry data, compared to over 42,600 during the same period in 2022.
Tragically, the perilous journey from North Africa to Europe has claimed the lives of more than 1,800 individuals this year, underscoring the dangers migrants face.
Italian patrol boats and charitable groups continue their efforts to save lives, having rescued an additional 2,000 individuals who recently reached Lampedusa.