Rome, Aug 14 (V7N) – At least 26 people have died and 60 others have been rescued after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Italy near the island of Lampedusa on Wednesday.

Authorities confirmed that many passengers remain missing, prompting an ongoing large-scale search operation. The Italian coast guard warned that the death toll is likely to rise.

According to the coast guard, the vessel was spotted sinking about 14 miles from Lampedusa on Wednesday morning local time. Five ships, two aircraft, and a helicopter were immediately deployed for the rescue mission.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that the boat was carrying between 92 and 97 migrants who had departed from Libya, aiming to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. The cause of the accident remains unknown.

This tragedy adds to the growing death toll in the Mediterranean, where at least 675 people have died this year attempting dangerous sea crossings to Europe.

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