Tragedy struck once again in the central Mediterranean as an overloaded boat carrying about 150 migrants sank off the southern coast of Italy. Reports suggest that the vessel broke apart while attempting to land near the town of Crotone in the Calabria region, resulting in at least 58 fatalities, including a baby, with many more missing. Dozens of people were rescued from the rough seas and some managed to reach the shore. The migrants onboard were from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Iran and were reportedly fleeing difficult conditions in their home countries. The boat is said to have left Turkey three or four days prior to the incident. One survivor has been arrested on migrant trafficking charges.Italian officials have expressed deep sorrow over the incident, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blaming the deaths on traffickers and vowing to prevent departures to stem the flow of migrants into Italy. The European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen has also expressed her condolences and emphasized the need to reform EU asylum rules to address migration challenges.
Sadly, this is not the first tragedy of its kind, with more than 20,000 people having lost their lives or gone missing at sea in the central Mediterranean since 2014. While there is a need to rescue those in difficulty at sea, there are calls to close illegal immigration routes. Despite the efforts of authorities to prevent such incidents, large numbers of people continue to flee conflict and poverty, risking their lives in the process. Pope Francis, who has consistently championed the rights of migrants, has offered prayers for the dead, the missing, and the survivors.
