Italian rescuers recovered 10 bodies after a migrant boat carrying approximately 60 people from Libya capsized off the coast of Malta. A fishing vessel in the area rescued about 48 survivors.
The vessel overturned approximately 45 to 52 miles east-southeast of Malta. The Italian coast guard, part of Italy's navy, dispatched a patrol boat to the area at the request of Maltese authorities, who are coordinating the ongoing search operations.
The Libyan coast is one of the main departure points for migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to Europe. This perilous journey has claimed thousands of lives, with at least 990 refugees and migrants dying this year alone.
To reduce the number of migrants flowing through Libya, the European Union has provided 700 million euros since 2015 to reinforce border management. Italy’s migration policies have also relied on cooperation with Libya to curb departures, including the provision of support, training, and equipment for the Libyan coast guard to intercept boats.