Migrants die in boat capsizing off Lampedusa

Sixty survivors were taken to a centre on Lampedusa following the disaster, with four needing hospital treatment.

At least 26 dead and around a dozen missing after boat capsizes off Italian island

At least 26 people are dead and about a dozen are missing after a fibreglass boat carrying nearly 100 migrants capsized in international waters about 23 kilometers off Lampedusa. Italian coastguard and UN agencies said around 97 migrants were aboard when it left Libya. Sixty survivors were brought to a reception centre on the island, with four requiring hospital checks, according to UNHCR in Italy. An Italian law enforcement aircraft spotted the capsized boat on Wednesday morning, triggering a rescue operation that involved five ships, two aircraft and one helicopter. Survivor accounts say the vessel took on water and that the passengers were transferred to a second boat, which then capsized due to overloading. The situation remained fluid as crews continued searches for additional survivors.

Italy has seen a rise in sea arrivals this year and the disaster comes as the country tightens controls and pushes for faster asylum processing. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni vowed to keep fighting unscrupulous traffickers while stressing the need to address root causes. The UN and Red Cross warned that rescue capacity alone cannot prevent loss of life and urged broader European cooperation to share responsibility for people on the move.

The disaster highlights how dangerous the central Mediterranean route remains and how politics and humanitarian work collide. The government pursues strict controls, but the toll shows enforcement alone cannot stop the risks at sea. Experts say a durable solution will need more than border measures; it requires coordinated rescue, safer alternatives, and fair reception across Europe.

The incident also raises questions about the cost of rescue work and the public reaction that follows. The UNHCR notes rising deaths this year and cautions against framing the tragedy as a simple law enforcement failure. Addressing the drivers of flight such as poverty, conflict, and climate shocks will demand long term cooperation and clear plans for evacuation and asylum in European countries.

Highlights

The sea tests political will and humanitarian resolve in equal measure.