Six individuals, including a mother and her baby, have tragically lost their lives as three migrant vessels sank in the Mediterranean Sea.
One vessel sank off Tunisia’s Kerkennah Islands, resulting in four confirmed deaths, while 51 people are feared missing.
Another heartbreaking incident occurred near the Italian island of Lampedusa, where a mother and her one-year-old baby perished. Over 30 individuals are unaccounted for after two boats sank.
The victims, hailing from the Ivory Coast, were discovered by coastguards. The boats departing from the Tunisian city of Sfax were carrying 48 and 42 people, respectively, bound for Lampedusa.
The Kerkennah Islands incident involved passengers primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, according to Tunisian authorities.
Tunisian officials also found the remains of 10 migrants on a beach near Sfax, likely due to a storm that possibly caused their boat to sink.
Sfax is recognized as a common departure point for migrants aspiring to reach Europe for better prospects.
Italy’s coastguard rescued 57 migrants from the sunken vessels located southwest of Lampedusa. The UN’s migration agency reported over 30 missing individuals initially.
The tragedies come after a fatal boat accident in Greece in June that resulted in numerous deaths and missing persons.
Subsequent to the recent events, Italian authorities, along with patrol boats and charitable organizations, have rescued around 2,000 more migrants arriving on Lampedusa.
However, rescue operations are hampered by adverse weather conditions and substandard boat quality. In some instances, boats’ engines are stolen mid-journey by traffickers for reuse.
NGOs have criticized Italy’s far-right government for passing laws that force rescue ships to use distant ports, increasing costs and reducing effective patrolling.
The Italian interior ministry reported a significant rise in sea migration figures this year, reaching 92,000 compared to 42,600 in the same period last year.
Since March, crossing attempts from Sfax to Lampedusa have surged due to Tunisian President Kais Saied’s accusations against sub-Saharan migrants.
The Central Mediterranean crossing from North Africa to Europe remains a deadly route, with over 1,800 lives lost, though the actual toll is suspected to be higher, says the International Organization for Migration.
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