At least two people have died and 70 are missing after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea.
On April 4, after a vessel carrying around 105 refugees set off from Libya, a shipwreck occurred in the central Mediterranean, with at least 70 people missing, two confirmed dead, and 32 survivors rescued.
According to a report by AFP, the vessel was first spotted by a reconnaissance aircraft operated by "Sea-Watch," a German non-governmental organization. At the time, 15 people were clinging to the sides of the boat to survive, while multiple bodies and people calling for help floated in the surrounding waters.
Another non-governmental organization, "Mediterranea Saving Humans," said on X that the boat left Libya on the afternoon of April 4. It said that only 32 people were rescued by two merchant ships and taken to Lampedusa, a town in southern Italy.
In addition, two bodies have been recovered, and the chances of survival for the remaining missing people are slim. The incident occurred within the search-and-rescue area under the jurisdiction of Libyan authorities.
"Mediterranea Saving Humans" attributed the tragedy to European governments' refugee policies, criticizing their refusal to open safe and legal pathways for refugees. It said that this has led refugees to risk crossing the Mediterranean, ultimately resulting in the catastrophe.
Related News:
US slashes refugee admissions cap to historic low of 7,500
'Scientific refugees' from US find new home at French university
Comment