Italy: migrants die in boat explosion

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First aid after the explosion: The port of Le Castella on Sunday

Several migrants have died and several others 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 column of smoke was still visible from the nearby beach in the town of Crotone.

The exact number of victims is still unclear, Italian media report at least three deaths. It is unclear whether the migrants died in the explosion or on the crossing. Apparently people are still missing.

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Three dead, numerous injured: helicopter over the port of Le Castella

A boat with around 20 people on board apparently tried to reach the coast and was then noticed by the Italian authorities. The boat was being towed towards Crotone by an Italian customs ship when it caught fire for an initially unexplained cause. Then there was an explosion on board. Numerous people were injured. According to TV 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 south coast of Italy - often without the support of the coast guard or private sea rescuers. Around 17,000 people have reached Italy since January.

Hundreds of refugees landed on the island of Lampedusa and in Calabria at the weekend alone. Most of these so-called "ghost landings" are boats from Tunisia. The North African country has become the most important country of origin for refugees and migrants on the central Mediterranean route in recent months.

The economy in Tunisia 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. 

Mayor of Lampedusa calls for a strike

In southern Italy, the rising numbers are increasingly creating resistance in the arrival locations. The Mayor of Lampedusa, Toto Martello, called for a strike and called on the government of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to act again. Naval ships should intercept boats with migrants and bring them out of Lampedusa, as the local reception center is full.

The private German rescue ship "Sea-Watch 4" is currently waiting near Sicily for permission to enter the port. There are 353 refugees on board who had been rescued from the Mediterranean by private sea rescue workers. Part of it was saved by the Banksy-financed ship "Louise Michel" and then handed over to the larger "Sea-Watch 4".

Many of the people on board are traumatized and have suffered fuel burns. Since the beginning of the corona crisis, Italian and Maltese authorities have increasingly refused entry to the ports for private sea rescuers.

slü / AP