Migrant Shipwreck Near Lampedusa Leaves Many Missing

A tragic shipwreck near Lampedusa has resulted in seven people being rescued and 21 missing, including three children. The boat, originally from Libya, had 28 passengers. The central Mediterranean remains one of the deadliest migration routes, with over 2,500 migrants missing or dead last year.

Seven people were rescued and 21 others are missing following a shipwreck involving migrants off the island of Lampedusa, Italy, as reported by Italian news agencies and the United Nations on Wednesday.

The survivors, all Syrian nationals, informed rescuers that three children were among the missing. They had been on a boat that departed from Libya a few days ago, carrying a total of 28 people.

Nicola Dell'Arciprete, the UNICEF country coordinator for Italy, condemned what he described as "another tragic shipwreck" off Lampedusa. "Most of the survivors claim to have lost family members. We are on the spot with our operational teams," he announced on X.

The central Mediterranean is among the most dangerous migration routes globally. The U.N. migration agency (IOM) reported that over 2,500 migrants died or went missing crossing it last year, and 1,047 have been reported missing or dead this year as of Tuesday. According to the Italian interior ministry, slightly over 43,000 migrants have reached Italy in 2024, a decrease compared to previous years.

(With inputs from agencies.)