Two young children tragically lost their lives after a smuggler’s boat sank in the central Mediterranean, underscoring the dangers faced by migrants attempting the perilous crossing.
A German rescue ship, Sea Punk I, recovered the body of a three-year-old child. Despite the efforts of onboard medical personnel, a two-year-old child also passed away after being rescued.
Survivors recounted that multiple people, including another young child, drowned during the incident. However, 17 individuals, including one child, were successfully saved.
The Sea Punks rescue group described the chaotic scene: “People were drifting in the water on both sides of the boat” when the vessel responded to the distress call.
The rescue operation occurred within the Maltese search-and-rescue zone, closer to the Italian island of Lampedusa. A Maltese helicopter evacuated a pregnant woman and a severely injured man from the area.
Following the rescue, the Sea Punk I transferred 15 survivors and the bodies of the two children to an Italian Coast Guard vessel, which transported them to Lampedusa. Many of those rescued showed signs of severe hypothermia, reflecting the harsh conditions they endured.
Meanwhile, attention is also drawn to Italy’s recent migration policies. The government has built two migrant detention centers in Albania, a move marking the first agreement in which an EU nation redirects migrants to a non-EU country. However, the facilities have remained empty since November due to ongoing legal challenges.
