At least 34 migrants die after boat sinks off the Southern Coast of Italy

Picture source: Vigili De Fuoco

Around 34 migrants drowned off the coast of Southern Italy after the boat they were traveling in sank.

According to the Italian news agency Adnkronos the incident took place in Cutro, in the Crotone region, and these are still provisional figures.

Italy’s RAI state radio said the ship was carrying more than 100 migrants when it ran into trouble at dawn on Sunday, quoting unidentified port authorities near the coastal town of Crotone, in Calabria.

Vessels from the coast guard, border police and firefighters were involved in rescue efforts.

Vigili del Fuoco, Italy’s institutional agency for fire and rescue service, said a boat of migrants ran aground off Steccato di Cutro, in the province of Crotone, and reported around 40 survivors.

It added that an intervention was in progress.

ANSA and other Italian news agencies said around 30 bodies were found washed up on the shores at the seaside resort, while three other bodies were found in the water.

In addition to the bodies that ended up on shore, there are still several unrecovered corpses at sea.

On site are various means and operational belonging to the Carabinieri (branch of the Italian armed forces), Guardia di Finanza, Coast Guard and firefighters.

The boat, bringing migrants from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, crashed against rocks during rough sea weather, Adnkronos news agency said.

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