Italian Coastguard Discovers Nine Dead Migrants Following Shipwreck

Italy’s coastguard reported on Thursday that nine migrants, including a child, were found dead after their boat capsized southeast of Lampedusa.

However, 22 individuals were rescued. Authorities in Malta requested assistance on Wednesday within their search-and-rescue jurisdiction, about 30 miles southeast of Lampedusa.

The coastguard dispatched a patrol boat to the scene, which recovered the survivors and retrieved the bodies. Harsh conditions, including waves up to 2.5 meters high, complicated the rescue efforts.

The migrants, suffering from severe hypothermia, were transported to Lampedusa. Additionally, a coastguard aircraft was deployed to search for any missing migrants, although the statement did not specify the number believed to be missing.