59 dead when migrant boat wrecked off Italy's coast

February 27, 2023

It can be easy to forget that we aren't the only country dealing with a massive illegal immigration problem, but Europe has dealt with immigrant problems for decades.

On Sunday, an immigrant boat ran aground on Italy's rocky coast, killing 59 migrants and leaving 80 survivors.

"It is criminal to put a boat that is barely 20 meters long out to sea with as many as 200 people on board and with bad weather forecast," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said. "It is inhumane to trade the lives of men, women and children for the price of the 'ticket' they have paid with the false prospect of a safe journey."

The migrants' lives were "cut short by human traffickers," she said.

The Italian Coast Guard is continuing to search for survivors of the crash and is using planes and a submarine in the effort. Officials think more deaths will be reported.

The ship came from Turkey and contained migrants from Afghanistan, Iran, and other countries.