Around 30 bodies have been recovered off the southern coast of Italy, according to RAI state radio.
A migrant boat reportedly broke apart in rough seas on Sunday (February 26) with around 40 survivors being found so far. RAI quoted unidentified port authorities near the coastal town of Crotone, Calabria, stating that the boat was carrying more than 100 migrants when it faced difficulty on the Ionian sea.
State TV said around 27 survivors managed to make it to shore - apparently on their own. By mid-morning, a spokesperson for firefighters involved in the rescue effort said 40 survivors had been found.
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"At the moment there are various victims," said Luca Cari. Italian news agency AGI stated the number of recovered bodies had hit 27 and a baby that was only a few months old was among the dead.
It has not been made immediately clear what the nationalities of the migrants were in reports. However, migrant vessels aiming for Calabria often depart from Turkish or Egyptian shores.
Antonio Ceraso, mayor of Cutro where bodies reportedly washed up on the beach, said: "It is something one would never want to see. The sea continues to return bodies. Among the victims are women and children.”
Italy's interior minister, Matteo Piantedosi, said the shipwreck was a "huge tragedy" that "grieves me deeply". He added that it was "essential" to explore initiatives to prevent the departure of migrants taking dangerous journeys across the sea.
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