41 migrants drowned today (Wednesday) near the coast of the island of Lampedusa in southern Italy, after the ship they were on sank in the sea. According to reports in the local media, 4 migrants were rescued by rescue forces that were called to the scene.
According to the survivors' accounts, the ship departed a week ago from the city of Sfax in Tunisia and was en route to the coast of Italy. At a certain point, a massive wave hit the ship, causing it to capsize in the water. It is further reported that there were 45 migrants on board, including 3 children who drowned in the incident.
Last June, a similar incident was reported off the coast of Greece, where 78 migrants drowned near the Greek island of Philos. The ship was en route from Libya to Italy, carrying approximately 400 migrants at the time of the sinking.
At a certain point, aircraft belonging to the European Union Border Agency spotted the sinking ship and alerted the authorities. 104 of the migrants on board were rescued alive, and some of them were transferred for medical treatment to hospitals in Greece.