At least 26 migrants have died after a boat capsized off the coast of Italy, with dozens more reported missing, according to the Associated Press (AP). The incident occurred on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, near Lampedusa Island in international waters, as confirmed by Italy’s Coast Guard and United Nations agencies.
Lampedusa’s Mayor Filippo Mannino and the Italian Coast Guard reported that the boat capsized in the early hours of the morning. So far, 26 deaths have been confirmed, but authorities fear the toll may rise as rescue operations continue to search for the missing.
According to AP, the boat was carrying close to 100 migrants. The vessel sank near Lampedusa in international waters, leading to the tragic loss of lives. Survivors reported that the migrants had set off from Libya in two boats. When one boat began taking on water, all passengers were transferred to a single fiberglass boat, which subsequently sank due to overloading.
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson in Italy, Filippo Ungaro, stated that 60 survivors have been rescued and taken to a migrant reception center in Lampedusa.
In response to the tragedy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a statement, saying, “Today’s tragic incident reminds us that rescue operations alone are not enough. More effective measures are needed to address the root causes.” She emphasized that her government would continue its fight against human traffickers and work to manage migration flows.
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