A devastating migrant shipwreck near the Italian island of Lampedusa has left 21 people missing, with seven survivors rescued in critical condition. The incident occurred on September 4, 2024, when the survivors, all Syrian nationals, were found clinging to their semi-sunken boat 10 nautical miles southwest of Lampedusa.
The survivors reported that they had set sail from Libya with 28 people on board, including children. During their journey, rough seas capsized the boat multiple times, leading to the disappearance of 21 passengers. Italian naval and air units have been deployed to search for the missing individuals.
The central Mediterranean route is notorious for being one of the deadliest migration paths. The UN migration agency reported over 1,000 migrant deaths so far this year, with more than 2,500 deaths recorded in 2023. The Italian coast guard continues its search for survivors.