Accra: Two children have died in the central Mediterranean, after an overcrowded boat carrying 99 migrants capsized. One person is missing, the EU border protection agency Frontex said on Wednesday, adding that a further 96 people were said to have been rescued. The accident occurred on Tuesday in international waters between Libya and Tunisia.
According to Ghana News Agency, Frontex reported that a reconnaissance aircraft was initially tasked with locating a boat that had previously been reported by a non-governmental organization. After the aircraft spotted the boat, distress calls were made and a rescue operation was initiated, Frontex said. During the recovery operation by a cargo ship, the boat reportedly capsized. Frontex then dropped a rescue raft from the air.
The German aid organization Sea-Watch stated that their reconnaissance aircraft, Seabird 2, had already spotted the overcrowded boat the day before. Despite multiple distress calls, no rescue was initially launched, Sea-Watch said. Survivors reported having been at sea for four days.
The central Mediterranean route from Libya or Tunisia to Italy or Malta is considered extremely dangerous. Fatal boat accidents occur repeatedly.
