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WORLD NEWS Monday 27 February 2023

Migrant boat breaks up off Italian coast, killing nearly 60

of the total number, with
nearly half of those fleeing
from Afghanistan.
In a statement released by
the premier's office Sun-
day, Meloni expressed "her
deep sorrow for the many
human lives torn away by
human traffickers."
"It's inhumane to exchange
the lives of men, women
and children for the 'price'
of a ticket paid by them
in the false prospect for a
safe voyage," said Meloni,
a far-right leader whose
governing allies include the
anti-migrant League party.
She vowed to crack down
on departures arranged
by human smugglers and
to press fellow European
Union leaders to help.
Rescued migrants sit covered in blankets at a beach near Cutro, southern Italy, Sunday, Feb. 26, Opposition parties point-
2023. ed to Sunday's tragedy as
Associated Press
proof of the flaws in Italy's
By FRANCES D'EMILIO bright blue wood littered oni said some 200 people migration policy.
Associated Press the sand like matchsticks. had been crowded into a "The truth is that the EU to-
ROME (AP) — A wooden "All of the survivors are 20-meter (66-foot) boat. day doesn't offer effective
boat crowded with mi- adults," Red Cross volunteer The rescue operation in- alternatives for those who
grants smashed into rocky Ignazio Mangione said. volved a helicopter and are forced to abandon
reefs and broke apart be- "Unfortunately, all the chil- police aircraft, as well as their country of origin," Fer-
fore dawn Sunday off the dren are among the miss- vessels from state firefighter rara said in a statement.
Italian coast, authorities ing or were found dead on squads, the Coast Guard Another route employed
said. Rescuers recovered the beach." A baby was and border police. Local by traffickers crosses the
nearly 60 bodies, and doz- reported among the dead. fishermen also joined in the central Mediterranean Sea
ens more people were Motorboats were expect- search. from Libya's coast, where
missing in the rough waters. ed to continue searching The bodies were brought migrants often endure bru-
Officials feared the death through the night, despite to the sports stadium in the tal detention conditions for
toll could top 100 since worsening weather condi- nearest city, Crotone. A lo- months before they are al-
some survivors indicated tions. Rescue divers strug- cal priest said he blessed lowed to board rubber din-
the boat had as many as gled with tall waves. many of them while they ghies or aging wooden fish-
200 passengers when it set Italian state TV quoted sur- were still lying on the ing boats for Italian shores.
out from Turkey, United Na- vivors as saying the boat beach. The route is considered one
tions refugee and migra- had set out five days earlier Many of the survivors, of the deadliest.
tion agencies said. from Turkey. wrapped in blankets and Meloni's government has
At least 80 people were Standing next to the wreck- quilts, were taken by bus to concentrated on compli-
found alive, including some age on the beach, a re- a temporary shelter. State cating efforts by humani-
who reached the shore af- porter for Italian RAI state TV said 22 survivors were tarian boats to make mul-
ter the shipwreck just off TV noted a life preserver taken to a hospital. tiple rescues in the central
Calabria's coastline along bearing the word "Smyrna," Pope Francis told the faith- Mediterranean by assign-
the Ionian Sea, the Italian a Turkish port also known as ful in St. Peter's Square that ing them ports of disembar-
Coast Guard said. One of Izmir. he was praying for the kation along Italy's northern
the agency's motorboats More than 170 migrants dead, the missing and the coasts, meaning the ves-
rescued two men suffering were estimated to have survivors. He added he also sels need more time to re-
from hypothermia and re- been aboard the ship, the was praying for the rescu- turn to the sea after bring-
covered the body of a boy. U.N. High Commissioner for ers "and for those who give ing those rescued aboard,
As sundown approached, Refugees and the Interna- welcome" to the migrants. often hundreds of migrants,
firefighters said 59 bodies tional Organization for Mi- "It's an enormous tragedy," safely to shore.
had been found. gration said in a joint state- Crotone Mayor Vincenzo Humanitarian organizations
One man was taken into ment. Voce told RAI. "In solidar- have lamented that the
custody for questioning Among them were "chil- ity, the city will find places crackdown also includes
after fellow survivors indi- dren and entire families,'' in the cemetery" for the an order to the charity
cated he was a trafficker, according to the U.N. state- dead. boats not to remain at sea
state TV said. ment, with most of the pas- In 2022, some 105,000 mi- after the first rescue opera-
The boat collided with sengers from Afghanistan, grants arrived on Italian tion in hopes of performing
the reefs in rough, wind- Pakistan and Somalia. shores, some 38,000 more other rescues, but to head
whipped seas. Three big Earlier, in an indication of than in 2021, according to immediately to their as-
chunks of the vessel ended the difficulty in establish- Interior Ministry figures. signed port of safety. Vio-
up on the beach near the ing how many passengers According to U.N. figures, lators face stiff fines and
town of Steccato di Cutro, had set out on the voyage, arrivals from the Turkish confiscation of the rescue
where splintered pieces of Italian Premier Giorgia Mel- route accounted for 15% vessel.q