At least three people, including two children aged 3 and 4, died during a perilous Mediterranean crossing from Libya to Italy, according to the German maritime rescue charity RESQSHIP. The charity also reported rescuing 59 survivors from the same rubber dinghy that was found adrift south of the Italian island of Lampedusa.
The boat had departed from the port of Zawiya in western Libya on Wednesday, but its engine failed after just one day at sea, leaving the migrants vulnerable to dehydration, exposure, and the elements. By the time rescuers arrived on Saturday afternoon, two children had already died, likely from dehydration the previous day. A man found unconscious was later pronounced dead despite resuscitation efforts. Survivors also reported another migrant drowned after falling overboard on Friday.
Many of the survivors suffered chemical burns from saltwater and fuel exposure. Among them, two children and four adults in critical condition were transferred to the Italian coast guard for urgent medical care.
Lampedusa, located between Tunisia, Malta, and Sicily, is a primary entry point for migrants attempting to reach Europe from North Africa. This central Mediterranean route has become one of the deadliest migration paths worldwide. Since 2014, nearly 25,000 migrants have died or gone missing along this route, including around 1,700 fatalities last year and 378 so far this year, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The tragedy highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by migrants, especially children. UNICEF reports that nearly 3,500 migrant children have perished crossing the Mediterranean over the past decade, with many traveling alone and facing exploitation and abuse.
Despite efforts by the EU and Italy to curb irregular migration through agreements with Libya and Tunisia, the dangerous crossings continue, underscoring the urgent need for safer migration routes and stronger protections for vulnerable migrants.
This latest incident is a stark reminder of the risks migrants endure in search of safety and a better life, and the continuing human cost of the Mediterranean migration crisis.
