Italian authorities have launched a search operation for 40 missing migrants after a rubber boat carrying them capsized in the Mediterranean Sea near the Italian island of Lampedusa.
At least six bodies have been recovered, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
According to Chiara Cardoletti, the Italian representative for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the boat was carrying 56 people attempting to reach Europe.
So far, only ten survivors have been rescued and brought to Lampedusa, while the search for the missing continues.
The UNHCR reported that the small vessel had departed from the Tunisian city of Sfax on Monday night. After several hours at sea, the boat started to deflate and take on water, leading to the tragic incident.
This latest disaster highlights the ongoing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, as thousands continue to risk their lives on dangerous sea routes in search of safety and better opportunities in Europe.
Italian authorities and humanitarian organizations are urging for stronger measures to prevent such tragedies and ensure the protection of those fleeing conflict and hardship.
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