Some survivors rescued around the Strait of Sicily claimed to have been on a boat that sank en route to Italy after leaving Sfax, Tunisia, it has been reported.
The four survivors, who are from Guinea and the Ivory Coast, reportedly arrived at Lampedusa on Wednesday.
The Coast Guard was informed by them that 45 people, including three children, left Sfax at 10 a.m. on Thursday, according to ANSA.
According to their claims, the boat capsized because of a big wave, and every immigrant on board was swept into the water.
Even the only 15 people who were wearing life jackets, according to the four, perished, ANSA reported.
It comes after two previous shipwrecks off the Italian island on Saturday that claimed the lives of a lady and her infant while requiring the rescue of over 100 migrants from the water.
It has been challenging for Italian Coast Guard boats to rescue stranded migrants in recent days because to the exceptionally rough waters in the Strait of Sicily.
at the past several days, more than 2,000 people have arrived at Lampedusa after being saved at sea by Italian police vessels and NGO organisations.
According to data from the interior ministry that was most recently updated on Friday, there have been about 92,000 arrivals in Italy so far this year, compared to more than 42,600 during the same period in 2022.
More than 1,800 individuals have reportedly perished so far this year while travelling from North Africa to Europe, according to sources.
Italian patrol vessels and humanitarian organisations have just saved an additional 2,000 migrants who have arrived on Lampedusa.
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