Reading Time: 2 minutes
Italy has recorded a significant surge in migrant arrivals this year, with the interior ministry reporting a 136% increase compared to the same period in 2024. As of Monday, 3,074 migrants have arrived in the country since the beginning of 2025, with good sea conditions over the weekend enabling the landing of approximately 1,500 migrants, predominantly on the island of Lampedusa.
The ministry detailed that the majority of the migrants originated from Pakistan (525), Bangladesh (321), Egypt (206), and Syria (119). Among the arrivals were 221 unaccompanied minors, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by children during these perilous journeys.
However, the weekend’s surge in arrivals was overshadowed by a devastating shipwreck in Malta’s search-and-rescue zone, approximately 53 nautical miles from Lampedusa. Two young boys, aged two and three, tragically lost their lives. Their bodies were recovered and transported to Lampedusa’s mortuary chamber in Cala Pisana on Sunday night.
The German NGO Sea Punk conducted the rescue operation early Sunday, recovering the victims and 15 survivors from the shipwreck. The survivors, who include the parents of the two toddlers, were later transferred to an Italian coast guard vessel. Survivors, hailing from Nigeria and Cameroon, revealed that two passengers remain missing, including a one-year-old boy.
The tragedy underscores the dangers faced by migrants as they attempt to cross the Mediterranean in overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels. The Mediterranean continues to be one of the deadliest migration routes in the world, as many risk their lives in search of safety and a better future in Europe.
Italian authorities are calling for greater cooperation with EU partners to address the surge in arrivals and prevent further tragedies. The interior ministry has attributed the increase in migration to favorable sea conditions and persistent instability in countries like Libya, a key departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe.
As the international community grapples with the ongoing migrant crisis, the dual reality of surging arrivals and tragic losses serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustainable and humane solutions.
Photo: The German NGO vessel Sea Punk
Source: ANSA