Tragedy has struck in the central Mediterranean Sea after a boat carrying around 105 people overturned shortly after leaving Libya, leaving more than 70 feared dead.
Rescue groups Sea-Watch and Mediterranea Saving Humans said only 32 people were pulled alive from the water, while two bodies have been recovered and dozens remain missing.
The incident reportedly occurred in a search-and-rescue zone overseen by Libyan authorities.
Survivors were picked up by passing commercial vessels and taken to the Italian island of Lampedusa, a frequent destination for migrants attempting the perilous crossing from North Africa to Europe.
Footage shared by rescuers showed desperate scenes, with survivors clinging to the overturned hull as help approached. The NGOs blamed the disaster on what they describe as Europe’s failure to provide safe and legal migration routes.
The crossing remains one of the deadliest in the world. According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 683 people have died or gone missing on the route so far in 2026, even as thousands continue to arrive on Italian shores.