25 migrants found dead as boat reaches Italy
August 1st, 2011 - 4:07 pm ICT by IANSRome, Aug 1 (IANS) At least 25 migrants - as yet of unknown nationality - were found dead Monday in a boat carrying nearly 300 refugees to an Italian island, officials said.
The boat, carrying a total of 296 refugees, was found along the coast of the Lampedusa island, Lampedusa port authorities told ANSA news agency.
All the deceased were young men who may have died of asphyxiation, they said.
There were 36 women and 21 children among the refugees still alive.
Since the beginning of the north African unrest in January, Lampedusa has become a transit point for refugees fleeing that region.
Official statistics said some 30,000 immigrants have arrived in Italy, mostly from Tunisia and Libya.
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- Five migrants found dead in boat near Italy - Mar 17, 2012
- Tunisia and Italy agree to curb illegal immigration - Apr 07, 2011
- Two human traffickers held in Italy - Apr 23, 2011
- Italy to send ships, planes to ease refugee crisis in Libya - Mar 04, 2011
- Over 1,400 die trying to reach Italian shores - May 26, 2011
- Libya unrest may unleash wave of 350,000 migrants: Italy - Feb 24, 2011
- Hundreds missing after migrant boat sinks near Italian island, 50 rescued - Apr 06, 2011
- Hundreds of Libyan refugees feared dead after ship sinks off Libya - May 10, 2011
- Mussolini's granddaughter lashes out at Carla Bruni over immigrants - Apr 08, 2011
- Fierce fighting keeps Libya on the edge (Lead) - Mar 07, 2011
- Condoms urged for Tunisian migrants on Italian island - Mar 30, 2011
- Berlusconi, Sarkozy call for changes to Schengen treaty - Apr 27, 2011
- Libya becomes a roadblock on the path to Europe - Sep 11, 2010
- 150 killed in Mediterranean boat capsize: UN - Jun 04, 2011
Tags: ansa news agency, asphyxiation, deceased, immigrants, island officials, italian island, italy rome, lampedusa island, libya, migrants, nationality, official statistics, port authorities, refugees, transit point, tunisia, unrest, young men