International Desk: At least 59 people, including 12 children, died when a ship carrying refugees sank off the east coast of Italy’s Calabria region. Dozens more are feared missing. This information was provided by the news media, the BBC, in a report.
The ship capsized while attempting to land near the coastal town of Crotone in the Calabria region, reports said. Survivors said there were at least 150 people on board.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who visited the scene, said 30 people were still missing. Italy’s Ansa news agency reported that among the dead was a baby just a few months old. The recovered bodies were taken from the beach to a nearby seaside resort.
The Coast Guard said 80 people were found alive, including some who managed to reach shore after drowning. It is unclear exactly how many people were on board when the boat sank.
The ship was carrying more than 200 people, rescue workers told AFP news agency. That means more than 60 people are missing. The boat, which left Turkey several days ago, had passengers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Iran. Large numbers of people fleeing conflict or poverty migrate from Africa to Italy every year.
