A heartbreaking shipwreck off Italy’s Lampedusa island has claimed the lives of 41 migrants, as recounted by survivors to local media. Four survivors from the disaster shared their harrowing tale with rescuers, revealing that they were on a vessel that had set sail from Sfax in Tunisia, only to sink on its journey to Italy.
The survivors, hailing from the Ivory Coast and Guinea, managed to reach Lampedusa on Wednesday. They conveyed that their boat, carrying a total of 45 people, including three children, departed Sfax on Thursday the previous week, but tragically foundered within hours. They were rescued by a cargo ship before being transferred to an Italian coast guard vessel.
This year alone, over 1,800 individuals have lost their lives attempting the perilous journey from North Africa to Europe. Italian patrol boats and charity organizations have been working tirelessly to rescue migrants arriving on Lampedusa, with recent days witnessing the arrival of an additional 2,000 people.
Tunisia, situated around 80 miles (130km) from Lampedusa, has become a significant departure point for migrants seeking safety and better prospects in Europe. This disaster serves as a stark reminder of the immense risks and challenges faced by those undertaking such journeys, and the dire consequences that can result.