Tragic Shipwreck Leaves Migrants Missing and Dead off Italy's Shores

Three people died and more than 20 others remain missing after migrant boats sank off Italy's coast this weekend, marking another deadly chapter in Mediterranean crossings that have claimed over 32,000 lives since 2014.

The first tragedy involved a boat carrying about 35 people that capsized in the central Mediterranean after two days at sea. Italian coast guard crews rescued 11 migrants, including four unaccompanied children, and recovered the body of a pregnant woman near Lampedusa island. More than 20 passengers are still missing.

In a separate incident on Sunday, Italian tax police intercepted another boat with 85 people aboard. They found two migrants dead and 14 others in critical condition. Coast guard units transported the bodies and those needing urgent medical care to hospitals, operating 16 nautical miles from Lampedusa's shore.

These deaths add to a grim toll that shows no signs of slowing. At least 916 migrants have died crossing the central Mediterranean so far in 2025, according to the International Organization for Migration. UN data reveals that one in five of the 32,700+ people who've died attempting Mediterranean crossings since 2014 was a child.

The incidents highlight the ongoing crisis as migrants continue attempting dangerous sea routes to reach Europe. Lampedusa, Italy's southernmost island, remains a primary arrival point for boats departing from North Africa. The island's proximity to Tunisia and Libya makes it a frequent destination for overcrowded vessels that often lack proper safety equipment.

For European policymakers, these deaths underscore the challenge of managing migration flows while preventing humanitarian disasters. Italy bears much of the rescue burden due to its geographic position, but the broader EU continues debating how to share responsibility for asylum seekers and border management.