A new migratory tragedy took place on a beach in the port city of Crotone, in the Calabria region of southern Italy: at least 33 bodies, including many children, were recovered by the coastguard who intervened to rescue the ailing boat. 27 bodies washed up on the beach. More dead were retrieved from the water. The search for the missing continued and was hampered by the strong waves.
The overloaded fishing boat, which was likely carrying more than 250 people from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, failed in rough seas and crashed into rocks just meters from shore. It broke in two. 50 migrants could be rescued. Patrol boats are busy at sea looking for survivors. Police and Carabinieri, as well as Red Cross officials, also rushed to the crash site. The casualty balance may increase. Around 50 survivors were also found on the beach.
Repeatedly serious accidents on the front of Italy
Every year, thousands of migrants try to reach Italy and therefore Europe from North Africa, often on inaccessible boats. Serious accidents happen again and again. According to the Italian Ministry of the Interior, 13,067 migrants entered the country by sea as of Thursday this year, more than double the same period last year (5,273). Thousands of people have died in shipwrecks in recent years.
A new law by the right-wing government of Giorgia Meloni, which passed the Senate last week, is also making the job of civilian sea rescuers more difficult. However, most migrants arrive in Italy on their own ships and boats.