Italy has reported that six have died and 40 are missing after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea. The survivors, rescued by fishing and coast guard boats, stated that violent waves during the night washed some passengers overboard.
The overcrowded ship ran into bad weather during a risky crossing from North Africa. Search and rescue efforts are underway, but the prospects of finding additional survivors decrease with each passing hour.
The disaster serves to illustrate the ongoing danger for migrants who make the treacherous sea crossings to Europe. Italian authorities have appealed for coordinated international action to avoid further catastrophes.
The authorities are also probing the traffickers who arranged the crossing. Humanitarian organizations are calling on governments to provide safer options for asylum seekers who are escaping war and poverty.
