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Six Dead, 40 Missing After Migrant Boat Sinks Near Lampedusa

Italian Coast Guard continues search for survivors as rough seas challenge rescue efforts in the central Mediterranean.

Overview

  • An inflatable dinghy carrying 56 migrants from North Africa sank near the Italian island of Lampedusa after departing from Sfax, Tunisia on Monday.
  • The Italian Coast Guard rescued 10 survivors, including six men and four women, and recovered six bodies, while 40 people remain missing.
  • Survivors reported the boat began to deflate a few hours into the journey, with many passengers falling overboard due to rough seas.
  • Search and rescue operations, supported by Frontex and other agencies, are ongoing despite adverse weather conditions hindering efforts.
  • This tragedy highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the central Mediterranean, where over 24,506 migrant deaths and disappearances were recorded between 2014 and 2024.