At least 20 people are reported missing following a tragic shipwreck in the Mediterranean on September 1st, according to UN official Chiara Cardoletti. The seven survivors, who were rescued by Italy’s coast guard and taken to Lampedusa, are in critical condition, with several having lost loved ones in the disaster.
The coast guard reported that the vessel was discovered drifting and half-submerged about 20 kilometers off Lampedusa. The boat, carrying seven Syrian men, was on the brink of sinking. Rescuers found the vessel filled with water and managed to retrieve the men using inflatable slides.
The survivors revealed that they had departed from Libya on September 1st with 28 people aboard, including three minors. Due to adverse weather conditions, 21 individuals fell into the water, leading to the ongoing search efforts for the missing. The operation is being assisted by aircraft.
The sinking occurred on the same day Italian authorities decided to detain a rescue ship operated by the Sea Watch group, citing a failure to await Libyan approval before commencing the rescue. Sea-Watch 5, which had rescued 289 people, docked in Civitavecchia, Lazio, and will remain in port for 20 days.
In 2023, over 3,000 migrants were reported missing after attempting the Mediterranean crossing from North Africa, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Recent figures show a decrease in migrant arrivals in Italy, with 43,061 arriving this year compared to 115,177 during the same period last year.
Since the right-wing coalition government led by Giorgia Meloni came to power in October 2022, efforts have intensified to curb migrant boat arrivals from North Africa. Italian law mandates that NGOs must head directly to a port after a rescue, limiting their capacity to perform multiple rescues. Non-compliance can result in fines and vessel seizures.