At least one woman has died, two people are feared missing, and 87 others have been rescued following a migrant shipwreck off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa, according to the United Nations migration agency.
The group was initially rescued by a Tunisian fishing vessel before being transferred to the Italian coastguard. They arrived at Lampedusa around 4 a.m. local time on Monday, said Flavio Di Giacomo, spokesperson for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The migrants had departed from Tunisia on a fragile metal boat that broke apart during the journey. “These vessels are floating coffins,” Di Giacomo said, adding that search efforts were ongoing to confirm whether one or two individuals remain unaccounted for.
Located between Tunisia, Malta, and the Italian island of Sicily, Lampedusa has become a frontline destination for migrants attempting to reach Europe via the central Mediterranean—considered one of the world’s deadliest migration routes.
In a separate incident overnight, another group of about 80 migrants, including children and several pregnant women, also landed in Lampedusa after a perilous crossing in rough seas. They had reportedly set off from Libya on Friday in a rubber dinghy.
“They were lucky to make it, given the sea conditions they faced,” Di Giacomo said, describing the journey as “dramatic.”
According to IOM data, more than 25,000 migrants have died or gone missing on the central Mediterranean route since 2014. The toll includes 1,810 lives lost last year and at least 542 so far in 2025, underscoring the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
Authorities continue to call for safer migration pathways and stronger international cooperation to prevent further loss of life at sea.
Melissa Enoch
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