HIBAPRESS
More than 70 people are missing and at least two have died after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, according to the non-governmental organizations "Mediterranea Saving Humans" and "Sea Watch" on Sunday.
"Mediterranea Saving Humans" announced the rescue of 32 people after the sinking of the boat, which sailed on Saturday afternoon from Libya and had on board 105 people, including women, men and children. They added, "A tragic shipwreck on Easter. 32 survivors, two bodies were recovered, and more than 70 people are missing," explaining that the wooden boat capsized in a search and rescue area controlled by the Libyan authorities. For its part, the organization "Sea Watch" stated that the survivors were rescued by two commercial ships and landed on Sunday morning on the Italian island of Lampedusa. We are horrified. Over Easter weekend, about 71 people likely drowned in the Mediterranean. Yesterday, our aircraft Seabird 2 spotted an overturned wooden boat: ~15 people clinging desperately to the hull, others in the water, and some lifeless bodies. 📽️ Fabian Melber https://t.co/dl4dtjNFoL pic.twitter.com/yDOBFxyUPd — Sea-Watch International (@seawatch_intl) April 5, 2026. A video clip posted by the organization on the X platform, which appears to have been filmed by the "Sea Bird 2" surveillance aircraft, showed men clinging to the hull of the overturned boat while it drifted in the sea, then a commercial ship approached it. "Mediterranea Saving Humans" said, "We share the pain with the survivors, their families and relatives. This is not a tragic accident, but rather the result of the policies of European governments that refuse to open safe and legal routes of access." Lampedusa constitutes a primary point of arrival for migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa. Many perish during this dangerous journey. Since the beginning of this year, 683 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean, according to the International Organization for Migration. The Italian Ministry of Interior also stated that 6,175 migrants arrived on the Italian coasts during the same period, according to the latest figures issued on April 3.
