It is a new drama that unfolded in the Mediterranean Sea. More than 31 migrants, including an infant a few months old, died on Sunday, February 26, following the sinking of their boat at dawn, in Steccato di Cutro, a seaside resort in the province of Crotone, in Calabria ( south), Italian media report.
Italian firefighters confirmed they recovered 28 bodies, while three others were swept away by sea currents. The boat contained between 150 and 250 people, according to Italian media. About 40 people were rescued, according to firefighters.
According to the AGI news agency, the overloaded boat broke in two when it hit rocks due to rough seas. the same source quoting a firefighter who participates in the rescue. According to the Adnkronos news agency, around 100 people from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan were on board the boat. Questioned by Agence France-Presse, the Italian coastguards did not respond immediately.
“Dozens and dozens drowned, including children, many missing. Calabria is in mourning for this terrible tragedy ”, reacted in a press release Roberto Occhiuto, president of the region, at the end of the morning.
New migrant rescue law passed this week
The shipwreck comes just days after Italy's parliament adopted controversial new rules on rescuing migrants at sea from the far-right-dominated coalition government led since October by Giorgia Meloni. The latter had promised, once she came to power, to reduce the number of migrants arriving in Italy.
The new law forces aid ships to carry out only one rescue at a time, which critics say increases the risk of death crossing the central Mediterranean, considered the world's most perilous route for migrants .
The Italian government accuses NGOs of increasing, through their action, the arrival of migrants in Italy and of encouraging traffickers to organize them. However, these rescue only a small percentage of migrants wishing to arrive in Europe, with most rescue operations carried out by coast guard or navy vessels.
"People at sea must be saved whatever the cost, without penalizing those who help them", reacted Sunday on Twitter Carlo Calenda, ex-minister and leader of the centrist party Azione, in the face of the tragedy that occurred in the morning.
Italy's geographical location makes the country a destination of choice for asylum seekers leaving North Africa for Europe. Rome has long complained about the number of arrivals on its territory, believing that it does not have the means to cope with it, despite the material and financial assistance provided by the European Union.
According to the Italian Interior Ministry, nearly 14,000 migrants have landed on Italy's shores since the start of 2023, compared to around 5,200 during the same period last year and 4,200 in total in 2021.
The bodies of eight people, including a pregnant woman, were previously discovered aboard a boat off the Italian island of Lampedusa on Friday February 3.
