The Italian coast guard carried out a rescue operation in the Mediterranean Sea, as a result of which 91 migrants were rescued from a ship in distress off the island of Lampedusa. The bodies of two dead men were also found on board.
As reported by the Italian Coast Guard, the distress signal was received from an aircraft of the EU border protection agency Frontex. Two patrol boats were deployed to rescue the migrants who were on a drifting ship 16 nautical miles from the island of Lampedusa.
All rescued migrants were taken to the island of Lampedusa, where they were transferred to medical services to provide the necessary assistance. The bodies of two male migrants were also found on the ship, the causes of death of which have not yet been specified.
According to the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs, from the beginning of 2025 to October 17, 55,948 migrants arrived in the country by sea. This compares to 55,010 arrivals in the same period in 2024.
Illegal migration problem in the Mediterranean
The Central Mediterranean route, linking Italy, Malta, Libya and Tunisia, remains one of the most active routes for illegal migration into Europe. The island of Lampedusa, closest to the North African coast, is often the first point of entry for migrants who manage to cross the sea on their own or are rescued by coast guard operations.
But crossing the Mediterranean Sea carries enormous risks. Overloaded and unsuitable for long sea crossings, ships often capsize, and migrants face a lack of water, air or exhaust gas poisoning. Every year, many people die trying to reach European shores in search of a better life.