A tragic incident occurred near the Italian island of Lampedusa involving an inflatable boat carrying migrants. As a result, there are casualties and dozens of people missing. This was reported on March 19 by a representative of the UN Refugee Agency, according to Reuters.
According to the organization, at least six people have died, and around 40 are considered missing. Survivors told rescuers that the boat, carrying 56 migrants from Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Mali, departed from the Tunisian city of Sfax. A few hours after setting sail, it was caught in a storm, causing many to fall overboard.
The Italian Coast Guard reported receiving a distress signal on March 18. Upon arrival at the scene, rescuers found 10 survivors and six bodies. The search for the missing continues despite challenging weather conditions. Military and police aircraft, as well as EU border patrol aviation, have been deployed to assist in the rescue operation.
Lampedusa is one of the key entry points for migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa to Europe. Earlier, in January 2025, the Italian Navy transported 49 migrants found in international waters to detention centers in Albania. This was part of Italy’s policy to redistribute migrants, but legal challenges have questioned the legitimacy of such actions.
