Italian Coast Guard Collision with Migrant Vessel Leaves Two Dead, One Missing

Over the weekend, an Italian coast guard rescue boat was involved in a collision with a migrant craft, resulting in two deaths and one person still missing. The incident occurred off the coast of Syracuse, where the Guardia Costiera responded to a distress call about 17 miles from shore. The response boat, CP 323, faced challenging conditions due to rough weather and low visibility during the nighttime rescue operation.

The collision between the patrol boat and the migrant vessel led to multiple occupants of the craft being thrown into the water. The response boat crew managed to rescue 34 survivors, but unfortunately, two individuals succumbed to their injuries. One person died of a pulmonary embolism during the journey back to shore, while another passed away after being taken to a hospital. Search efforts are ongoing for the missing person, and 10 survivors with serious injuries have been hospitalized for further treatment.

In light of the incident, the prosecutor’s office in Syracuse is investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision, with the Italian Coast Guard cooperating in the probe. Meanwhile, Italy has implemented a new strategy to process maritime migrants outside its borders, partnering with Albania to host new arrivals at a processing center in Shenjin. The plan involves transferring rescued male migrants from Lampedusa to Albania for asylum evaluations, with the goal of deporting ineligible individuals without them ever setting foot on Italian soil. Despite some criticism regarding cost and oversight, the processing center is expected to begin operations soon.

Source .