Lampedusa Shipwreck Kills 26 Migrants, Dozens Rescued

A tragic shipwreck off the coast of Lampedusa claimed the lives of at least 26 migrants on Wednesday (13), while around a dozen remain missing. The incident occurred in international waters, the Italian coast guard and U.N. agencies confirmed.

According to officials, nearly 100 migrants were on board the vessel when it capsized. Sixty survivors were brought to a reception center in Lampedusa, said Filippo Ungaro, spokesperson for the UNHCR in Italy. Survivor accounts indicate that between 92 and 97 people departed Libya before the tragedy.

The Italian coast guard described the death toll as “provisional,” noting that search operations are still underway for missing passengers.

International Organization for Migration spokesperson Flavio Di Giacomo said the migrants had originally departed on two separate boats. When one began taking on water, passengers were moved to the other — a fiberglass vessel — which then overturned due to overloading.

Lampedusa Mayor Filippo Mannino said the shipwreck likely occurred at dawn. The exact duration of the migrants’ time at sea remains unknown.

This year alone, 675 migrants have died attempting the central Mediterranean crossing — not including this latest disaster — according to UNHCR. The route from North Africa to Southern Europe is one of the world’s deadliest, claiming nearly 24,500 lives over the past decade. Most fatalities occur on small boats departing from Libya and Tunisia.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences and reiterated her government’s commitment to tackling illegal immigration and human trafficking. “The necessary rescue effort is not sufficient and does not address the root causes of this tragic problem,” she said.

The deadliest shipwreck near Lampedusa occurred on October 3, 2013, when a vessel carrying over 500 migrants caught fire and sank, killing at least 368 people.

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