Twenty people are missing after a boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea on September 1st, according to survivors.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson, Chiara Cardoletti, shared the grim news on social media, highlighting the tragic loss experienced by the survivors.
Seven Syrian men were rescued from the sinking vessel by Italian coastguards, but many of the survivors reported losing family members during the incident.
Italian coastguards responded to the distress call less than 20 kilometers from the island of Lampedusa, rescuing the seven survivors from a boat that was already half-submerged and on the verge of sinking.
According to their statement, the migrants had set sail from Libya with 28 people on board, including three minors.
Due to bad weather conditions, 21 individuals are believed to have fallen into the sea.
Nicola Dell’Arciprete, a UNICEF coordinator in Italy, condemned the tragic sinking as yet another “devastating accident” near Lampedusa.
He emphasized the emotional toll on the survivors, many of whom are grieving for lost family members. The UN and other humanitarian organizations are providing on-site support to the survivors.
The Italian Coast Guard shared footage showing the precarious condition of the boat, which was small and entirely filled with water.
The rescued men were transferred onto inflatable mattresses and brought aboard the rescue vessel. Search operations continue, with aircraft being deployed to locate the missing passengers.
