At least three people, including two children aged 3 and 4, have died while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Libya to Italy, a German rescue group has confirmed.
The charity, RESQSHIP, said it rescued 59 people on Saturday from a rubber boat found drifting south of Italy’s Lampedusa island. The boat was first spotted by a Frontex surveillance aircraft.
Rescue workers said the two children had already died by the time they reached the vessel. “They had died the day before, probably from thirst,” said one of the charity’s paramedics, identified only as Rania.
A man who was found unconscious later died despite efforts to save him. Survivors also said one person had fallen into the sea and drowned on Friday.
Many of those rescued had chemical burns caused by a mix of sea water and spilled fuel. Two children and four adults in critical condition were quickly transferred to the Italian coast guard for urgent care.
According to the NGO, the migrants had left Zawiya, a port city in western Libya, last Wednesday. But the boat’s engine failed after a day, leaving them stuck at sea.
Lampedusa is one of the main entry points into Europe for people escaping conflict and poverty in North Africa. The journey across the central Mediterranean is considered one of the deadliest migration routes in the world.
Since 2014, nearly 25,000 migrants have died or gone missing along this route, according to the International Organization for Migration. Around 1,700 people died last year, and 378 so far this year.
click here to read full story
