At least 26 dead in tragic migrant shipwreck off Lampedusa

Thursday 14 August 2025 - 09:30

A new tragedy unfolded in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday as a migrant boat capsized near the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, leaving at least 26 people dead and many others missing, according to Italian authorities and international organizations.

According to Italy’s Coast Guard, the migrants had departed from the Libyan coast near Tripoli in the early hours aboard two overloaded vessels. When one of the boats began taking on water, all passengers tried to climb onto the second one, which then capsized due to overcrowding.

Flavio Di Giacomo, spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said approximately 95 people were aboard the two boats. At least 60 survivors were rescued, but around 35 people, including children, remain dead or missing.

The Italian Red Cross confirmed that among the survivors were 56 men and 4 women. Several were taken to local medical centers for further examination, though most were reportedly in stable condition.

The Italian Coast Guard and the Guardia di Finanza launched immediate rescue operations, deploying a helicopter and a reconnaissance aircraft to search for more survivors. The European border agency Frontex has also joined the efforts.

Among the first victims recovered were the bodies of a baby, three teenagers, and two women, according to the Italian news agency Ansa.

A deadly route

The central Mediterranean is considered the most dangerous migration route in the world, with hundreds of deaths reported each year. Since the beginning of 2025, at least 675 migrants have lost their lives on this route, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi expressed sorrow on social media, calling the shipwreck a "new tragedy" and reiterating the government’s commitment to fighting human trafficking networks. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni echoed these sentiments, highlighting Italy's efforts to prevent irregular departures and manage migration flows through cooperation with North African countries.

So far in 2025, more than 38,000 migrants have arrived in Italy by sea—a figure largely stable compared to last year but down significantly from 2023.