Rome: 51 rescued in suspected Mediterranean migration accident, more than 10 dead

Rome Rome : Euro News reports German aid group RESQSHIP More than ten suspected migrants died and 51 were rescued on Monday during a failed travel attempt in Mediterranean waters off a southern Italian island near North Africa, the group reported, citing a statement from the EU. German aid group RESQSHIP, which operates the Nadir rescue ship, said it had pulled 51 people from the sinking wooden boat, including two who were unconscious, and

10 bodies were found in the ship.

In a post on X, RESQSHIP said their crew were “taking care of” the 51 people pulled from the boat. “Rescue came too late for 10 people.” “Two of whom were unconscious – they had to be cut free with an axe,” added the post on X. The southern Italian island near North Africa is a well-known target destination for human trafficking, with 127,000 migrants arriving last year, according to Euro News.

At the same time, the Italian coast guard is searching for about 50 people missing after a ship sank off the southern Calabrian coast. According to a statement from the Italian coast guard, the search and rescue operation began after a mayday call from a French boat that was sailing about 120 miles (193 kilometers) off Italian shores, Euro News reported.

The incident took place in the jurisdiction of both Greece and Italy, the statement said. Rescuers reported the presence of a half-submerged boat and recovered 12 migrants, who were probably traveling from Turkiye. The survivors were brought to the Calabrian port of Rosella Jonica, where they were given medical care. Unfortunately, according to the coast guard, one of the migrants died shortly after being rescued. The coast guard’s Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (IMRCC) in Rome immediately diverted two merchant ships sailing nearby to the rescue site. Assets from the European border and coast guard agency Frontex also helped. (ANI)