51 people evacuated, over 10 dead in suspected migration accident in the Mediterranean

NEW DELHI: Over 10 suspected migrants were killed and 51 were evacuated on Monday after an attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea near a southern Italian island close to North Africa failed, according to multiple reports.

The German aid organization RESQSHIP, which operates the rescue ship Nadir, reported that it had rescued 51 people from a sinking wooden ship, including two unconscious people. Ten bodies had also been discovered on board.

In a post on X, RESQSHIP mentioned that their crew “took care” of the 51 people rescued from the boat, but regretted that “the rescue came too late for 10 people.” The post added that “two of the rescued were unconscious and had to be freed with an axe.”

This southern Italian island near North Africa is a notorious destination for people smugglers, with 127,000 migrants arriving here last year.

Meanwhile, the Italian coast guard is searching for about 50 people who are missing after a shipping accident off the southern coast of Calabria.

According to a statement from the Italian Coast Guard, the search and rescue operation was launched following a distress call from a French ship about 120 miles (193 kilometers) off the Italian coast, Euro News reported.

The incident occurred in waters under the jurisdiction of both Greece and Italy, the statement said.

Rescue workers found a half-sunken boat and rescued 12 migrants, most of whom probably came from Turkey.

The survivors were taken to the Calabrian port of Roccella Jonica, where they received medical treatment. Tragically, one of the migrants died shortly after being rescued, the coast guard reported.

The Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (IMRCC) in Rome immediately diverted two nearby merchant ships to the rescue. Forces from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, were also involved in the rescue operation.

(with input from agencies)