Over ten suspected migrants died while 51 were evacuated on Monday following an unsuccessful attempt to cross the Mediterranean near a southern Italian island close to North Africa, several reports indicate.
In its website, RESQSHIP made it known that they had been “looking after” the 51 people saved from the ship but were quick to say that “the rescue came too late for 10 people.” The article also said that “two of those saved were unconscious and had to be cut free with an axe.”
The island in Southern Italy next to North Africa is notorious among human traffickers with up to 127,000 immigrants coming in last year.
Meanwhile, [a] search is ongoing by the Italian coast guard for about 51 persons missing following a shipwreck off Calabria’s southern coast.
As reported by Euro News with reference from a statement from Italian coast guard, the latter commenced their search and salvage mission when they got a distress signal from a French vessel located some 120 nautical miles (193 kilometers) off their coasts.
This incident took place in waters shared between Greece and Italy, according to the declaration.
A boat half-sunk was found by rescuers who managed to save twelve migrants who were likely traveling mostly from Turkey.
They received medical attention at Roccella Jonica port in Calabria where they are staying. The surviving migrant passed away shortly after being rescued according to information obtained from Coast Guard.
The Italian maritime rescue coordination centre (IMRCC) in Rome promptly re-routed two nearby merchant ships for assistance with this operation. Assets belonging to Frontex—the European Border and Coast Guard Agency—also took part.
