Rome, 27 February 2023 (GNP): Officials have reported that an overloaded boat boat capsized in turbulent waters off Italy’s southern Calabria region early on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 59 people.. It was carrying migrants, including 28 individuals from Pakistan.
Vincenzo Voce, the mayor of the coastal city of Crotone, stated on Sunday afternoon that the confirmed number of fatalities had reached 59. The Pakistani embassy in Rome, Italy’s capital, indicated that 40 Pakistanis were on board the ill-fated boat. According to the embassy, rescue officials have retrieved the bodies of 28 Pakistani nationals from the sea, while 12 others are still missing.
Additionally, the Pakistani officials stated that they are communicating with the Italian authorities, maritime agencies, and volunteers regarding the matter. The embassy also mentioned that they are keeping the Pakistani community in the Calabria region informed of the most recent updates about the tragic incident.
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Meanwhile, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “We are closely following the reports about the possible presence of Pakistanis in the vessel that has capsized off the coast of Italy.”
She tweeted that the Pakistani embassy in Rome is currently gathering information from the Italian authorities. The coastguard service had previously announced that “43 bodies” had been discovered on the coast, and “80 individuals, including some who could make it to shore after the boat sank,” had been rescued.
The ship, carrying migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and various other countries, had departed from Turkey several days prior and collided with stormy weather, ultimately sinking near Steccato di Cutro, a coastal town on the eastern shore of Calabria.
The Guardia di Finanza customs police reported that one survivor was detained on charges of migrant trafficking. Antonio Ceraso, the mayor of Cutro, confirmed that women and children were among the fatalities, although the exact number of children who perished is currently unknown.
Ceraso’s voice trembled as he informed the SkyTG24 news channel that he had witnessed “a scene that nobody should ever have to see… a horrific and unforgettable sight.”
According to Curra, the ship set sail from Izmir in eastern Turkey three to four days ago, and survivors claimed that approximately 140 to 150 individuals were aboard. “Numerous migrants from Afghanistan and Iran, fleeing severe hardship,” stated Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
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Early reports from various Italian news agencies, including ANSA, indicated that 27 bodies had washed up on the beach, and more were discovered in the water.
According to Ignazio Mangione, an official with the Italian Red Cross, few of the children who were thought to have been aboard the boat survived. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed profound sadness for the fatalities and pledged to prevent similar tragedies by preventing migrant sea departures and cracking down on human traffickers.
Her right-wing government has taken a tough stance on migration since assuming office in October, primarily by implementing strict new laws that limit the actions of migrant rescue charities, which received final parliamentary approval on Thursday.
In a separate statement, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi asserted the importance of halting sea crossings that, in his opinion, provide migrants with a false hope of a better life in Europe, enrich traffickers, and result in such calamities.
Pope Francis, the child of Italian immigrants to Argentina and a long-time supporter of migrants’ rights, said he was praying for all those affected by the shipwreck. Italy is one of the primary points of arrival for migrants attempting to enter Europe by sea, with many seeking to travel to wealthier northern European countries.
The central Mediterranean route, one of the most difficult in the world, has seen over 17,000 deaths and disappearances registered by the United Nations Missing Migrants Project since 2014, with over 220 deaths or disappearances estimated to have occurred this year.
