ROME: On Sunday, 28 Pakistanis and overall 59 migrants lost their lives when the wooden sailing boat carrying them crashed at the Southern Italian Coast. The incident occurred due to a collision with a rock at the coast. The deceased included some children as well.
The sailing boat came from Turkiye and had migrants from several countries, including Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to media reports, the vessel crashed at a seaside resort located near Steccato di Cutro. Vincenzo Voce, Mayor of Crotone, informed that 59 people became victims of the accident.
Manuela Curra, official of the provincial government, added that 81 people survived out of which 22 were admitted to a hospital.
Manuela Curra further briefed that the vessel began its journey 3-4 days ago from Eastern Turkiye city, Izmir. She said that survivors told that around 150 people were onboard. Curra added that most of the survivors belonged from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia.
Mayor of the Italian town Cutro, Antonio Ceraso, said he witnessed the spectacle that no one would ever wish to witness in their life. He said that the gruesome sight was the one that stays with a person forever. An official of the Italian Red Cross, Ignazio Mangione, claimed that only a few children onboard survived.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed human traffickers for the attack and pledged to end sea immigration. She expressed deep sorrow over the horrific incident. Similarly, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi urged to stop sea crossing that gives people an illusory mirage of a better life in Europe.
