AMN/ WEB DESK
Seven Bangladeshi nationals died due to hypothermia while trying to reach Italy on a boat on Tuesday. The boat carried 280 people mostly from Bangladesh and Egypt. It left Libya two or three days ago. The boat was intercepted near the Italian island of Lampedusa. Italian authorities reported that three people were found dead on board the boat while four people died after the authorities brought them to Lampedusa Island. The authorities said that they are thought to have died due to hypothermia or exposure.
The remaining migrants on the ship were taken to a facility at Contrada Ibriacola which already accommodates 365 people.
ANSA news agency reports that the Italian state prosecutors have opened an inquiry into the deaths to identify the smugglers who put the migrants on the ship.
The Italian news agency AGI reported that an organization ‘alarm phone’ which monitors migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean sea had alerted Italian authorities to reach the boat in distress with 280 people on board but the rescue team arrived late.
The UNHCR data shows that more than 2000 migrants arrived in Italy in 2022 including the latest boat crossing the Mediterranean sea. In 2021, 66,770 migrants crossed the Mediterranean to reach Italy and 1496 people were reported missing or dead.