Two merchant vessels off the Italian coast recovered the bodies of two migrants and rescued 32 survivors from a boat attempting to cross from Libya to Europe over Easter weekend. According to rescue charities, the survivors reported that 71 others were lost at sea during the journey.
The victims were transferred to an Italian coast guard patrol boat and taken to Lampedusa, as confirmed by the organizations Mediterranea Saving Humans and Sea-Watch. Italy’s interior ministry declined to comment, and the Italian Coast Guard did not respond immediately.
Survivors indicated that their vessel originally had 105 passengers, with 71 now missing. Video footage from Sea-Watch depicted individuals clinging to a capsized orange boat as the merchant vessel approached.
This year, adverse weather conditions have complicated Mediterranean crossings, reducing departures from North Africa and increasing dangers for those who attempt the journey. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that at least 683 migrants have died in the central Mediterranean this year, marking one of the highest tolls since 2014.
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