According to officials, at least 59 migrants died after their overloaded boat sank early Sunday in stormy seas off Italy’s southern Calabria region.
“The number of confirmed victims was 59 as of a few minutes ago,” Vincenzo Voce, mayor of the coastal city of Crotone, told Sky TG-24 on Sunday afternoon.
According to the AGI news agency, 12 of the 59 victims were children, including a newborn, and 33 were women.
The overloaded vessel broke up in violent waves off the coast of Crotone, according to Italian coastguards, with one officer reporting that a suspected people smuggler had been apprehended by security forces. Rescue workers told AFP that the vessel had been carrying “more than 200 people”.
“Calabria is in mourning after this terrible tragedy,” regional governor Roberto Occhiuto said.
Far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who came to power in October vowing to stem the flow of migrants reaching Italian shores, said, “The government is committed to preventing [migrant boat] departures and, with them, this type of tragedy.”
“Yet another horrific shipwreck has claimed the lives of dozens of people, including children — this time off the coast of Italy,” U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres wrote on Twitter.
“I say once again: Every person searching for a better life deserves safety & dignity. We need safe, legal routes for migrants & refugees.”