In the central Mediterranean, three young sisters—aged nine, 11, and 17—tragically lost their lives in a rubber boat amidst treacherous sea conditions, as confirmed by the German rescue organization RESQSHIP. The overcrowded vessel, which had departed from Libya’s Zuwara city, struggled under the weight of approximately 65 migrants when it began taking on water due to rough waves, prompting a desperate rescue effort.
Among the survivors were the sisters' mother and brother, as well as several other vulnerable individuals, including three pregnant women and a seven-month-old baby. The rescue charity highlighted the extreme overcrowding of the boat as a significant factor in the tragedy, describing the fearsome scene onboard. “As people were evacuated one by one, screams broke the dark night. It soon became clear that the three sisters were trapped beneath the surface,” recounted Barbara Sartore, a communications coordinator for the rescue operation.
The chaotic situation deteriorated rapidly, as survivors began to panic when they realized the sisters had drowned. To make matters worse, many survivors suffered from severe chemical burns due to a mixture of seawater and fuel that permeated the boat. One person was still unaccounted for after reportedly falling overboard, signaling ongoing dangers even amid rescue efforts.
Italy's coastguard assisted earlier in evacuating 14 individuals, while the RESQSHIP rescue vessel brought the remaining survivors and the girls' bodies to the island of Lampedusa. Katja Schnitzer from the rescue team expressed her outrage and sorrow, declaring that the deaths exemplify the unimaginable risks migrants face in their quest for safety.
UN agencies report a staggering statistic: over 700 lives lost this year alone attempting to navigate the perilous waters between North Africa and Italy. They emphasize the pressing need for increased search-and-rescue operations and the imperative to ensure the safety of all survivors upon arrival.
The tragedy of these three sisters serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the ongoing migrant crisis, underscoring the urgent need for humanitarian support and policy reforms to protect those seeking a better life.
