A boat carrying 45 people, including three children, capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, leading to 41 deaths.
Survivor accounts told a harrowing tale to local Italian media, shedding light on the calamitous event.
Originating from the Tunisian city of Sfax, known as a hub for migrant smuggling, the ill-fated voyage began last Thursday, August 3. Within a few hours of departure, the vessel encountered tumultuous waters, ultimately leading to its overturning and sinking, according to reports from the survivors.
Four survivors hailing from Ivory Coast and Guinea, consisting of two men, a woman and a minor, reached the shores of Sicily’s Lampedusa Island. Initially rescued by a cargo ship, their rescue operation was later handed over to the vigilant crew of an Italian coast guard vessel.
Italy’s Interior Ministry data revealed a grim picture, with around 93,700 migrants arriving via sea routes this year alone. Notably, nationals from Guinea and Ivory Coast constituted the most significant portion of migrants.
Meanwhile, in another heart-wrenching event, the Tunisian Coast Guard saved two people and recovered the lifeless bodies of 11 migrants after their boat capsized in Tunisian waters. Aboard the vessel were 57 people from sub-Saharan African nations, with 44 passengers remaining unaccounted for, according to Tunisian authorities.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, whose government includes an anti-migrant faction, wants the European Union to get Tunisia to stop the smuggling operations, but so far their efforts have been unsuccessful.
