2 Shipwrecks Off the Coast of Italy: 11 Dead, Over 60 Missing

Two ships carrying migrants have capsized near the coast of Italy, resulting in 11 confirmed deaths and over 60 individuals reported missing. A total of 51 people were rescued from the sinking vessel. Reports indicate that the ship had departed from Libya, transporting migrants from Syria, Egypt, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The survivors have been handed over to the Italian Coast Guard.

The German charity ship RESQSHIP reported that on June 17, they rescued 51 individuals from a sinking wooden boat near the island of Lampedusa and discovered 10 bodies on the lower deck of the vessel.

On the same day, another shipwreck occurred, leading to over 60 people missing, including 26 children. Both vessels had migrants who had set out from Libya and Turkey. The survivors from the sunken boat near Lampedusa have also been handed over to the Italian Coast Guard. The ship that originated from Libya included citizens from Syria, Egypt, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Of the 12 rescued from the other sunken vessel found 200 kilometers off the coast of Calabria, one individual died shortly after reaching the shore. One of the survivors reported that 66 people are missing. This boat, carrying migrants from Afghanistan, had set sail from Turkey eight days prior.

The Mediterranean Sea is considered one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world. According to United Nations data, more than 23,500 migrants have died or gone missing in its waters since 2014.