The Italian coast guard discovered 19 deceased individuals and rescued 58 people from a dinghy carrying migrants approximately 80 nautical miles south of the Italian island of Lampedusa on Tuesday night.

Distress and Rescue Operation

The rescue operation took place within the Libyan search and rescue area, according to a coast guard spokesperson. Rough weather conditions, with waves exceeding 6-7 meters, complicated the intervention.

Challenging Sea Conditions

Roberto D’Arrigo, a coast guard spokesperson, stated, “We were the only one able to intervene, as there were no other ships or rescue teams in the area. Sea conditions were pretty extreme, with waves of more than 6-7 meters.”

Cause of Deaths and Survivor Care

Authorities believe the migrants likely departed from Libya. The cause of death is currently under investigation, but hypothermia is suspected.

The 58 survivors were transported to Lampedusa over a 10-hour period and are now receiving medical attention from local health services.

Mediterranean Migrant Deaths

Most fatalities involving migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea originate from boats departing from the coasts of Tunisia and Libya. A similar tragedy occurred off Lampedusa in August of last year, resulting in the deaths of at least 26 people when a boat carrying nearly 100 migrants capsized in international waters.

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