The toll of the shipwreck that took place in front of the coast of Steccato di Cutro, in the province of Crotone , continues to worsen, where a boat carrying hundreds of migrants broke in two a few meters from the shore.
Up to now, around sixty lifeless bodies have been recovered, including around twenty minors, but more than 100 dead are feared. Among the victims also a few years old twins and a few months old baby.
"When we arrived, the bodies were floating everywhere," said the first responders who arrived at the scene. On the other hand, 80 people were saved, twenty of whom were taken to hospital.
The boat - a caique, sunk due to rough seas - left Turkey four days ago.
The incident has aroused great emotion and positions taken. The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella has launched a call to the European Union, inviting Brussels to do more to "practically govern the migratory phenomenon".
The president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, underlined the need to "redouble our efforts" so that similar tragedies do not happen again.
For her part, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed "deep pain", however, inviting politics not to "speculate on the dead".
Meanwhile, the number of people arrested on charges of being smugglers with the task of bringing migrants to Italy rises to three. These are three men of Turkish nationality.
(Unioneonline/lf)
