▲ A boat carrying refugees and migrants waiting to be rescued near Italy (File Photo)
At least 11 people have died after a migrant boat capsized in waters near Malta, Reuters and other news outlets reported on June 8 (local time).
According to the rescue organization Sea-Watch and the Italian Coast Guard, the boat, which was carrying approximately 60 migrants, overturned on June 7 about 45 nautical miles (approximately 83 km) southeast of Malta.
Italian authorities dispatched patrol boats to the scene and recovered 11 bodies.
The remaining migrants were reportedly rescued by a fishing vessel passing through the area.
The boat is believed to have been traveling from Libya toward Europe when the accident occurred.
Italy, Malta, and Greece are considered the closest landing points for migrants arriving from North Africa.
According to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 827 migrants have died or gone missing while crossing the Mediterranean this year, including 14 children.
According to the Italian Ministry of the Interior, approximately 12,000 migrants have entered Italy so far this year, which is about half the number recorded during the same period last year.
On June 1, the European Union (EU) reached a provisional agreement on new regulations that would allow for the deportation of migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected or who have been ordered to leave to designated third countries.
(Photo: Getty Images Korea)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.