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Ships near Italy rescue 32 migrants, 71 lost at sea

By Reuters
April 06, 2026
A migrant boat in Mediterranean waters east of Cape Greco in southeastern Cyprus. — AFP/File
A migrant boat in Mediterranean waters east of Cape Greco in southeastern Cyprus. — AFP/File

ROME: Two merchant vessels near the Italian coast recovered the bodies of two migrants and rescued 32 survivors from a boat trying to cross to Europe from Libya on Easter weekend, rescue charities said, citing the survivors as saying 71 others were lost at sea.

The victims were transferred to an Italian coast guard patrol boat and brought to the Italian island of Lampedusa, said the groups Mediterranea Saving Humans and Sea-Watch. Italy’s interior ministry said it had no comment on the report. The Italian Coast Guard did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sunday is Easter, a major holiday in Italy.