In a heart-wrenching incident off the Italian island of Lampedusa, at least two lives have been lost, and dozens of others are missing following two shipwrecks. The Italian coastguard reported recovering two bodies and rescuing 57 survivors after the vessels sank in stormy weather on Saturday. Survivors from one boat reported around 28 people lost at sea, while three were reported missing from the second boat. Both vessels, rickety iron boats, are believed to have departed from Sfax, Tunisia, on Thursday, according to Aljazeera.
Italian news agency ANSA revealed that the first boat was carrying 48 people, and the second held 42 individuals. Cultural mediators from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) fear that there may be "at least 30 people missing" after speaking with the survivors.
The tragic events have sparked an investigation into the shipwrecks, launched in Agrigento, Sicily, the nearby Italian island. More than 2,000 individuals have arrived in Lampedusa in recent days, having been rescued at sea by Italian patrol boats and NGOs. Unfortunately, the situation is further complicated by strong winds around the island.
Emanuele Ricifari, Agrigento's chief of police, expressed his outrage at the human traffickers responsible for putting migrants and refugees in such perilous conditions. He condemned their actions, pointing out that they should have known that rough seas were forecasted. "Whoever allowed them, or forced them, to leave with this sea is an unscrupulous criminal lunatic," he exclaimed. Ricifari passionately called for an end to such reckless and inhumane practices, expressing hope that the dangerous conditions would subside to prevent further loss of life
