A tragic start to the new year as at least 20 migrants remain missing after their boat capsized en route from Libya to Italy. Seven survivors, including an 8-year-old Syrian boy, were rescued near the island of Lampedusa, local authorities reported on Wednesday.
The young boy, traveling with his mother to reunite with his father in Germany, is among the few who survived. His mother is among those still unaccounted for after the vessel overturned early Tuesday morning.
Survivors described a harrowing ordeal, saying the missing included five women and three children. “They were so close to reaching safety,” said Lampedusa Mayor Filippo Mannino. “It’s devastating to think their journey ended just short of the shore.”
The small boat had departed from Zuwara, Libya, late Monday but ran into trouble in the early hours of Tuesday. Strong currents caused it to overturn. No bodies have yet been recovered.
The central Mediterranean remains one of the deadliest migration routes in the world, with nearly 24,500 people reported dead or missing since 2014, according to the International Organization for Migration. Most incidents involve boats departing from Libya and Tunisia.
Italy has intensified efforts to curb migrant departures, citing safety concerns. In 2024, the country recorded 66,320 migrant arrivals, a significant drop compared to 157,651 in 2023. Despite this, the human cost of these perilous journeys remains tragically high.
