Nine people, including a baby, have died after their boat capsized while trying to cross the Mediterranean in stormy weather, and another 15 people are feared missing, Italy's coast guard said on Thursday.
The Italian coast guard said it received a cooperation request from the Maltese search and rescue (SAR) authority after the boat capsized approximately 50 kilometers southeast of the island of Lampedusa on Wednesday.
The coast guard said it dispatched its own patrol boat to the scene, which "rescued 22 survivors and recovered 9 deceased individuals, including a baby."
The rescue operations "were particularly challenging due to adverse weather and sea conditions in the area with waves up to 2.50 meters," the coast guard said.
The nationality of the boat's passengers was not known but Lampedusa, which sits in the Mediterranean between Tunisia, Malta and the larger Italian island of Sicily, is the first port of call for many migrants seeking to reach the European Union.
"New terrible shipwreck near Lampedusa during a rescue operation," UNHCR Communication Officer Filippo Ungaro posted on X late on Wednesday. The survivors, taken to Lampedusa, were "in a state of hypothermia and shock," he added.
An aircraft from the Italian coast guard was conducting aerial searches for the missing in the area of the shipwreck.
In a separate operation, the Italian coast guard said it rescued 37 migrants "who were at the mercy of the waves aboard a small wooden boat about 7 meters long" off the coast of Lampedusa on Wednesday.
In un'unione perfetta tra storia e innovazione, il balcone di Palazzo Cavarretta ha ospitato due serate musicali che hanno trasformato il cuore di Trapani in un suggestivo auditorium a cielo aperto. Il maestoso edificio quattrocentesco ha...
The holiday season in the province of Trapani offers a charming experience, from the vibrant capital city to the enchanting medieval village of Erice and the evocative atmosphere of Valderice. It's a journey through Christmas markets, live...
Con l’avvicinarsi delle festività, cresce il desiderio di momenti speciali, quelli che restano nel cuore e diventano ricordi preziosi. Le luci che si accendono nelle città e l’attesa che accompagna gli ultimi giorni...
The Palermo Review Court has issued its first rulings regarding the case of eleven prison guards from the Trapani correctional facility, implicated in allegations of abuse and mistreatment of inmates. Today, the Review Court fully upheld the...
Il Truck Tour Banca del Cuore fa tappa a Trapani dal 2 al 4 novembre. Ottime notizie per i cittadini di Trapani! Torna il Truck Tour Banca del Cuore, l'iniziativa di prevenzione cardiovascolare gratuita che offre screening completi a bordo di un...
Sezioni
