In a tragic twist of fate, over 60 migrants, including vulnerable women and children, are believed to have perished during a treacherous voyage across the Mediterranean Sea from Libya to Europe. This heart-wrenching revelation stems from survivors rescued by the Ocean Viking, a vessel operated by the French humanitarian organization SOS Mediterranee.
The survivors recount a harrowing journey that commenced on March 8th when their vessel departed from Zawiya, Libya. Within three days, the boat encountered mechanical failure, rendering it powerless and leaving its occupants adrift without sustenance or hydration for days on end. Among the 224 migrants saved by the Ocean Viking in recent operations, 25 hail from this ill-fated voyage, bearing witness to the devastating loss of over 60 lives during the ordeal.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has voiced profound concern over the reported shipwreck, underscoring once again the central Mediterranean’s grim distinction as the deadliest migration route globally.
SOS Mediterranee has urgently appealed to Italian authorities to permit the Ocean Viking to disembark the rescued migrants at a closer port. Despite being instructed to sail to Ancona, situated 1,450 kilometers (900 miles) away from its current location in the Mediterranean, SOS Mediterranee advocates for swift action to ensure the welfare of those in distress.
While the exact death toll remains unconfirmed, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the perilous odysseys undertaken by migrants in pursuit of a better life in Europe, often at the ultimate cost of their own lives.