At least three people have died, including two children, in a harrowing Mediterranean sea crossing from Libya to Italy, a German rescue charity reported on Sunday.
The tragic incident occurred on a rubber boat that was intercepted south of Italy’s Lampedusa Island.
The RESQSHIP charity, which rescued 59 survivors, revealed that it reached the distressed boat on Saturday afternoon.
Unfortunately, it was too late to save everyone onboard. Two infants, aged 3 and 4, were found lifeless.
They had likely died from dehydration the day before, according to one of the paramedics.
In addition to the children, a man was found unconscious and later declared dead after failed attempts at resuscitation.
Survivors also reported that another migrant had drowned after falling overboard on Friday.
The rubber boat had departed from the Libyan port of Zawiya on Wednesday but encountered engine failure after just one day of navigation.
Left stranded, the passengers endured perilous conditions exposed to wind and waves.
Many of the survivors suffered chemical burns from saltwater and fuel, with two children and four adults in critical condition.
Lampedusa, a key gateway between North Africa and Europe, has become notorious for its deadly crossings.
Since 2014, nearly 25,000 migrants have perished or gone missing on this central Mediterranean route.
The tragedy underscores the perilous journey many take in hopes of reaching a better life in the EU.
