An Italian aid group says that scores of people are unaccounted for after many boats left during a fierce storm.
By Pierfrancesco Loreto
As many as 1,000 migrants are feared dead or missing in the central Mediterranean in the wake of the severe weather conditions brought about by Cyclone Harry.
On Monday, the Italian NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans released a statement referencing survivor testimonies and official alerts, which indicate that several boats sank as the tempest battered the area.
Laura Marmorale, the aid group’s president, has strongly condemned the Italian and Maltese authorities, accusing them of failing to respond adequately to search-and-rescue needs as the extreme weather unfolded.
The organisation made its estimate using new testimonies gathered by the networks Refugees in Libya and Refugees in Tunisia, which spoke with migrant communities in both countries.
These accounts depicted a significantly more difficult situation than European authorities have recognised to date.
Witnesses said that a large number of vessels left the Tunisian city of Sfax while the storm struck the region, with many failing to reach their destinations or return.
Boats set sail as Cyclone Harry battered the central Mediterranean, unleashing waves over 7 meters high and winds roaring past 54 knots.
Based on official information sent by Rome’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, at least 380 people were reported missing at sea as of Jan. 24.
The NGO noted that European maritime authorities have not issued any further official communications since then.
A much darker picture
Mediterranea Saving Humans also stated that the figure significantly underrepresents the reality revealed by personal testimonies and ongoing investigations.
Families are desperately searching for loved ones after entire boatloads vanished without a trace. Reports suggest that one smuggler sent out five convoys, each crowded with 50 to 55 passengers.
Community sources said that numerous people had departed from multiple locations south of Sfax, and many have since disappeared.
Only one boat is said to have reached Lampedusa on January 22nd, with a deceased person on board, and 1-year-old twins were said to be missing at sea.
In addition, in recent days, Maltese authorities have made the grim discovery of a considerable number of bodies.
Humanitarian actors have characterised the situation as an “unprecedented tragedy” and have reiterated demands for truth and accountability. They have also urged authorities to take immediate, decisive action to improve search-and-rescue operations and ensure effective responses to prevent further loss of life.
