Italy migrant boat shipwreck: Police detained three for alleged smuggling

• At least 64 migrants died in a shipwreck off Italy’s southern coast.
• Authorities have cautioned that the final death toll might exceed 100.
• A Turkish male and two Pakistani nationals were apprehended.

Following the deaths of at least 64 migrants in a shipwreck off Italy‘s southern coast on Sunday, police arrested three persons on suspicion of people smuggling.

A Turkish male and two Pakistani nationals were apprehended.

The majority of persons aboard the 200-person wooden boats were claimed to be from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.

Authorities have cautioned that the final death toll might exceed 100.

On Tuesday morning, rescuers recovered another body from the sea: that of a guy.

Despite terrible weather, the three men apprehended are reported to have sailed the boat from Izmir, Turkey, to Calabria, Italy.

Authorities claim they reportedly requested the migrants for roughly €8,000 (£7,000; $8,500) each to make the arduous journey.

The ship is said to have sunk after colliding with rocks in heavy weather while attempting to land in Crotone.

The coastguard said that 80 passengers were found alive, “including some who managed to reach the land after the sinking,” implying that many more were still missing.

The coffins of the victims found so far have been put out in a sports hall in Crotone – little white caskets for the younger victims and brown ones for the elderly – to allow people to pay their condolences. At least 12 children, including an infant, have been killed.

Families of the victims from Northern Europe have gathered to try to find out what happened to their loved ones and identify bodies where needed.

Several of the migrants on board had come from Afghanistan, according to rescuers, and Pakistan has confirmed that 16 of its residents survived the accident, with four still missing.

Since 2014, more than 20,000 people have died or gone missing at sea in the central Mediterranean, according to monitoring organizations.

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