Capsizing of Boat in Italian Waters Claims Lives of '40 More Migrants'

On Tuesday, May 15, it was reported that the capsizing of an inflatable boat with 137 passengers near the shores of Italy resulted in the deaths of 'approximately 40' migrants aboard. According to reports from France and the Associated Press, as the boat deflated, many passengers fell into the water, and by the time rescue boats arrived at the scene, 'about 40 people' had drowned. This incident occurred on Sunday, May 13, in the waters between Libya and the island of Sicily, Italy. A commercial ship that went to rescue survivors brought the remaining passengers to the coastal city of Catania in Sicily on Tuesday. In recent days, with warmer weather and calm seas, the number of boats carrying migrants heading from the shores of Africa to Italy has significantly increased. The Italian Coast Guard announced that over three days, from Friday to Sunday, nearly seven thousand of these migrants were rescued in coastal waters. In the past month alone, about 800 migrants drowned in one incident involving a ship near Libya, while just days earlier, another 400 people lost their lives in a separate boat incident on the same route. Since the beginning of this year, more than 1,750 migrants heading to Europe have drowned in the waters between Libya and Italy. Following these reports, the European Union held an emergency meeting where it was agreed to increase the number of boats and aircraft patrolling the Mediterranean to expedite rescue operations. In this context, 5,800 migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean, and Europe allocated more aid to address the migrant issue. Italy announced that a military operation plan against human traffickers in the Mediterranean is ready, and migrant fatalities in 2015 are expected to reach '30,000'.