At least 60 people have died after a boat with 200 migrants sank near the Italian coast of Calabria, south of the country. About 50 people have been rescued, of which 22 are admitted, half are minors and one is in a very serious situation.

The boat departed four days ago from the Turkish port of Izmir. According to the rescue services, the boat was "totally overloaded" and when it hit the rocks it was divided into two. Rescue services continue to seek survivors and, according to the first studies, migrants are Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The dead can be more

Vincenzo Voce Crotone, mayor of the city of southern Italy, has stated that "this is a terrible tragedy and I fear that the deaths will be much more". The missionary Sergio Di Dato of the NGO Doctors Without Borders has shown pain in the face of the sinking: "We certainly find it unacceptable and incomprehensible to see avoidable tragedies".

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is committed to tightening up laws against illegal migration and has expressed condolences for "many human lives that have ended human trafficking". He also recalled that his government has "a commitment to avoid such tragedies." Calls for "full cooperation" from the countries of origin of migrants.