19 June 2024 , 21:47
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Italy's coast guard searched both land and sea on Thursday after dozens of migrants went missing when a boat capsized and partially sank earlier this week in the Mediterranean sea, officials said.
Survivors told how the boat's motor had caught fire, causing it to turn over off the Italian coast. Those onboard were roughly eight days into their journey, which saw the boat set off from Turkey with around 75 people from Iran, Syria and Iraq on board, according to the U.N. refugee agency and other U.N. organisations.
A partially submerged boat was still in view by search teams, as the commander of the search operation said no bodies were in sight. The boat capsized about 195 kilometers (120 miles) off the Calabrian coast. Twelve people were rescued by a fishing boat on Monday, although one later died.
Italy's coast guard has recovered six bodies, but survivors say more than 60 people are missing, including more than 20 children.
A spokeswoman for Doctors Without Borders said that the survivors have suffered both psychological and physical trauma, and "remained very confused" .Cecilia Momi, in charge of the group's humanitarian affairs said: "They have been hospitalised and don't yet know who in their families is alive and who died at sea. Entire families are destroyed. Some lost a wife, some lost a child, a husband, a friend, a nephew."
Over 500 arrive on small boats along remote island in last few days in 'crisis'
Separately on Monday, the charity rescue ship Nadir rescued 51 people from Syria, Egypt, Pakistan and Bangladesh and transported them to Lampedusa. Another 10 people on the same smugglers' boat were found dead on the lower deck. More than 800 people have died, or went missing and are presumed dead, from crossing the central Mediterranean so far this year, an average of five dead a day, the U.N. agencies said.
The International Red Cross said that the tragedies are "another testament to Europe's failing approach to migration and asylum, which prioritizes walls and deterrence over humane welcome." It comes as the Greek coastguard has been accused causing the deaths of dozens of migrants in the Mediterranean, including nine who witnesses said were deliberately thrown into the water.
Analysis indicates this count includes more than 40 individuals who allegedly perished after being cast out of Greek territorial waters or expelled back to sea following arrival at Greek islands. The Greek coastguard has vigorously denied any allegations of illegal activities.