Hundreds feared dead in attempt to cross Mediterranean during cyclone

"Up to 380 people may have drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean last week as Cyclone Harry battered southern Italy and Malta, the Italian coastguard has said, as a shipwreck with the loss of 50 lives was confirmed by Maltese authorities. Just one person, who was hospitalised in Malta, survived the shipwreck, which happened on Friday. The man was at sea for 24 hours, reportedly clinging to the wreckage of the vessel, before being rescued by a merchant ship."

"In a separate tragedy last week, one-year-old twin girls from Guinea are presumed to have died off the coast of the Sicilian island of Lampedusa after an overcrowded boat they were travelling on was battered by Cyclone Harry, according to the Italy unit for Unicef's migrant and refugee response. Italy's coastguard estimates that 380 others who set sail from Tunisia during the cyclone, which generated huge waves in the Mediterranean, might also have drowned."

Cyclone Harry battered southern Italy and Malta, and up to 380 people may have drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean. Maltese authorities confirmed a shipwreck with the loss of 50 lives; one survivor was hospitalised in Malta after clinging to wreckage for 24 hours before rescue. The vessel had departed Tunisia on 20 January. One-year-old twin girls from Guinea are presumed dead after an overcrowded boat was struck near Lampedusa. Italy's coastguard is searching for eight vessels launched from Sfax during the past ten days. 66,296 people arrived by sea in Italy in 2025, and fewer NGO rescue ships operate due to government crackdowns.

Read at www.theguardian.com