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Several migrants have died and several more have been injured off the Italian coast in Calabria. The Italian media report. The migrants’ boat caught fire on Sunday, followed by an explosion. The plume of smoke was still visible from the nearby beach in the town of Crotone.
The exact number of victims is not yet clear, the Italian media reports at least three deaths. It is not clear whether the migrants were killed in the blast or at the crossing. Apparently people are still missing.
A ship with about 20 people on board apparently tried to reach shore and was later detected by Italian authorities. The ship was being towed to Crotone by an Italian customs ship when it caught fire from an initially inexplicable cause. Then there was an explosion on board. Numerous people were injured. According to television reports, there are also two Italian officials among them. One of them broke his leg, another suffered burns.
More refugee arrivals in Italy
For weeks, more refugees and migrants have been arriving on the southern coast of Italy, often without the support of the coast guard or private maritime rescuers. Around 17,000 people have arrived in Italy since January.
Hundreds of refugees landed on the island of Lampedusa and in Calabria just over the weekend. Most of these so-called “ghost landings” are ships from Tunisia. The North African country has become in recent months the most important country of origin for refugees and migrants on the Central Mediterranean route.
Tunisia’s economy is in crisis. The International Monetary Fund anticipates the worst recession since the country became independent. According to estimates, unemployment is likely to rise from 15 to 21 percent in 2020 as a result of the corona pandemic. Many young people want to look for work in Europe. Especially in the tourist strongholds of Tunisia, they hardly earn anything this year.
The mayor of Lampedusa calls for a strike
In southern Italy, growing numbers create more and more resistance at places of arrival. The mayor of Lampedusa, Toto Martello, called for the strike and called on the government of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to act again. Navy ships must intercept the ships with migrants and remove them from Lampedusa, as the local reception center is full.
The German private rescue ship “Sea-Watch 4” is currently waiting near Sicily for permission to enter the port. There are 353 refugees on board who were rescued from the Mediterranean by private sea rescue workers. Part of it was salvaged by the Banksy-funded ship “Louise Michel” and then delivered to the larger “Sea-Watch 4”.
Many of the people on board are traumatized and have suffered fuel burns. Since the start of the crown crisis, Italian and Maltese authorities have increasingly denied private maritime rescuers entry to ports.
