2023 Calabria migrant boat disaster

Coordinates: 38°55′48″N 16°54′07″E / 38.93000°N 16.90194°E / 38.93000; 16.90194
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2023 Calabria migrant boat disaster
Date26 February 2023; 14 months ago (2023-02-26)
LocationIonian Sea, off the coast of Calabria, Italy
Coordinates38°55′48″N 16°54′07″E / 38.93000°N 16.90194°E / 38.93000; 16.90194
TypeMaritime disaster
CauseWeather conditions
Participants143–200 migrants
Deaths63+

On 26 February 2023, a boat carrying undocumented migrants sank while trying to land on the coast of Steccato di Cutro, a seaside resort village of Crotone comune, in the region of Calabria in southern Italy amidst harsh weather conditions. The boat was carrying between 143 and 200 migrants when it sank, of whom at least 63 were killed, of whom there are 12 children including a baby under one year of age. Eighty-one people have been rescued.

Background

Main article: 2015 European migrant crisis

According to the International Organization for Migration, over 20,000 people have died or gone missing on the Central Mediterranean route since 2014.[1][2] The so-called Central Mediterranean route has been one of the most active despite the dangers it poses, making Italy one of the most common landing countries,[1] although many continue on to richer northern European countries.[3]

Incident

On 26 February 2023, a boat that had set sail from İzmir, Turkey a few days earlier[4] and was carrying migrants across the Central Mediterranean route sank off the southern coast of Crotone, Italy.[5]

The boat sank while attempting to land after it crashed into rocks in rough weather conditions. Video footage of the incident shows timber from the boat broken into pieces and floating along the beach. Parts of the boat's hull were also seen washing up along the seashore.[2][6] An official said that wreckage was strewn along 300 meters of beach.[7]

Victims

According to the Italian news agency Adnkronos, more than 100 people were aboard the boat when it sank, and they were from Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.[5] Other local agencies mentioned that there were migrants from Iraq, Syria, and Somalia as well.[2] The Anadolu Agency said that the boat carried "some 200 people",[8] while survivors stated that the number was between 150 and 240.[4]

At least 63 people were killed in the sinking, including 12 children, on of whom was a baby less than one year old.[9][3] Eighty-one people have been rescued.[4] The Pakistani Embassy in Rome has revealed that the bodies of 28 Pakistanis have been recovered.[10]

Most survivors were Afghans, Pakistanis, and Somalis. One of the survivors has been arrested on migrant trafficking charges.[4]

Rescue operations

Motorboats, vessels, and a helicopter were deployed to help with rescue efforts.[11] Firefighters on jet skis were also deployed, but operations were complicated due to harsh weather conditions.[12]

Reactions

Domestic

Giorgia Meloni, the Italian Prime Minister, expressed her "deep sorrow for the many human lives torn away by human traffickers", and condemned the "exchange" of migrants' lives for "the 'price' of a ticket paid by them in the false prospect for a safe voyage".[6][13]

Matteo Piantedosi, the Italian Interior Minister, stressed the importance of stopping sea crossings that offer migrants the "illusory mirage of a better life" in Europe.[4] Antonio Ceraso, the mayor of Cutro, said that he saw "a spectacle that you would never want to see in your life ... stays with you for all your life".[7]

International

Pope Francis said that he was "praying for everyone caught up in the shipwreck" in his Sunday address at St. Peter's Square.[7]

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that more than two dozen Pakistani nationals were on the boat when it sunk. Sharif said that the reports were "concerning and worrisome".[14][15]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Sabarwal, Harshit, ed. (February 27, 2023). "Italy: 43 dead after migrant boat sinks off coastal city of Crotone". WIONews. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  2. ^ a b c Slow, Oliver; Armstrong, Kathryn (2023-02-26). "Italy shipwreck: Dozens of migrants killed off Calabria coast". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  3. ^ a b "More than 40 migrants die after boat sinks near southern Italy". France24. 2023-02-26. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  4. ^ a b c d e Armellini, Alvise (2023-02-26). "Migrant shipwreck in southern Italy kills 58, including children". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  5. ^ a b "43 migrants dead in southern Italy after their boat sinks". The Straits Times. 2023-02-26. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  6. ^ a b D'Emilio, Frances (2023-02-26). "Migrant boat breaks apart off Italy; 43 dead, 80 survivors". AP News. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  7. ^ a b c "Migrant shipwreck in southern Italy kills 43, 80 survivors reported". Gulf News. February 26, 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  8. ^ Zampano, Giada (February 26, 2023). "At least 43 dead, dozens missing after Italy migrant shipwreck". Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  9. ^ "Italy migrant boat shipwreck: More than 100 people feared dead". BBC News. 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  10. ^ "At least 59 including 28 Pakistanis die after ship carrying migrants overturns off Italy's coast". The Free Press Journal. February 27, 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  11. ^ "Dozens of migrants have been killed in a shipwreck off the coast of Italy". NPR. February 26, 2023. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  12. ^ "Migrant shipwreck in Italy kills 43, 80 survivors reported". Dawn. 2023-02-26. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  13. ^ Latza Nadeau, Barbie (2023-02-26). "Children and women among 43 dead as migrant boat hits rocks near Italy". CNN. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  14. ^ "28 Pakistanis drown in Italy boat wreck; PM Sharif calls incident 'deeply concerning, worrisome'". Khaleej Times. February 27, 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  15. ^ Ghiglione, Davide; Fouché, Alexandra (2023-02-27). "Italy migrant boat shipwreck: More than 100 people feared dead". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
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