ROME, March 19 – Six migrants have died and 40 others are missing after a shipwreck off the Italian island of Lampedusa late on Tuesday, Italy’s ANSA reported on Wednesday.
The Italian coast guard has so far rescued 10 people and resumed search operations for any remaining survivors early Wednesday, ANSA reported. The coast guard has not immediately responded to a request for confirmation.
According to survivor accounts, a group of 56 migrants departed from Tunisia in a dinghy but encountered rough seas, causing many to fall into the water, ANSA said.
Lampedusa, located between Sicily and North Africa, is a key arrival point for migrants attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing. Italy has seen a rise in migrant arrivals in recent years, prompting heightened concerns over search and rescue operations in the region.
