Italian maritime rescue teams pulled 58 people to safety and recovered 19 bodies from a migrant vessel that encountered trouble roughly 80 nautical miles from Lampedusa on Tuesday evening.
Coast guard officials conducted the rescue operation in Libya’s search and rescue zone during dangerous weather conditions, according to a spokesperson who briefed reporters Wednesday.
“We were the only one able to intervene, as there were no other ships or rescue teams in the area. Sea conditions were pretty extreme, with waves of more than 6-7 meters (20-23 feet),” said coast guard spokesman Roberto D’Arrigo.
According to D’Arrigo, the migrants most likely began their journey from Libya, and authorities believe the fatalities resulted from hypothermia, though official confirmation of the deaths’ causes is still pending.
Following a 10-hour voyage, the rescued individuals were transported to Lampedusa, where local medical personnel are now providing care, coast guard officials reported.
The small Mediterranean island serves as Europe’s primary gateway for people fleeing North Africa across dangerous waters, with thousands perishing during these treacherous crossings.
The majority of fatalities occur when overcrowded vessels depart from Tunisian and Libyan shores.
Last August marked the most recent fatal incident near Lampedusa, when an overcrowded vessel carrying approximately 100 migrants overturned in international waters, resulting in at least 26 deaths.
