A migrant boat encountered a rescue operation by a Coast Guard cutter on Monday off the coast of Lampedusa, saving 51 migrants from Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mali, Gambia, Senegal, and the Ivory Coast. Tragically, during the rescue efforts, the boat capsized, resulting in the loss of two lives.
The migrants, comprising 46 men, two women, and a minor, had embarked on their journey aboard a migrant boat from Sfax on Friday night, spending three harrowing days adrift in the Mediterranean. Survivors recounted paying between 300 and 500 euros each for the perilous crossing.
Reports indicate the boat capsized as the migrants rushed to one side upon spotting the coast guard vessel. Despite the tragic events, Coast Guard officials managed to rescue most of those aboard, bringing them to safety.
In a separate incident on the same day, a finance police cutter intercepted another boat carrying 19 migrants from Tunisia and six from Bangladesh, including women and minors. These migrants, also departed from Sfax, were safely transported to Lampedusa.
The recent influx of arrivals has further strained resources on the island, with the Imbriacola district’s local hotspot now accommodating 282 individuals. Additionally, over 400 migrants were transferred to Porto Empedocle, Sicily, on March 17, with some requiring medical attention for various health issues.