Nearly 60 migrants, including Syrians, drowned off Italian coast
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – At least 59 people, including 12 children, were found drowned off the southeastern Italian coast early on Sunday, after a wooden boat carrying the migrants had sunk, Italian authorities said.
The Italian authorities are expecting that the death toll could top 100, since some survivors indicated the boat was carrying about 250 passengers when it took off from Turkey four days ago.
Italian media outlets published footage showing wooden debris strewn across the beach, rescuers handling a body bag at the site of incidents, the bodies of the victims in white death bags, and other survivors wrapped in blankets.
Only 80 people survived, while the fate of at least 50 others is still unknown, according to the Italian coast guard.
The boat was believed to be carrying migrants primarily from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, and Syria.
The Italian authorities took a Turkish man into custody for questioning after the survivors indicated that he was a trafficker.
A baby and young twins were reported among the dead, as the bodies of the twins were recovered from the sea, while the body of the infant was found on the beach.
According to local reports, about 20 children of different ages died in the boat accident.
The rescue operation continued throughout the night, and involved a helicopter and police aircraft, as well as vessels from state firefighter squads, the coast guard and border police.