In brief
Three young sisters aged 9, 11, and 17 drowned in a rubber boat carrying migrants in the central Mediterranean. The vessel, which was dangerously overcrowded, encountered waves up to 1.5 meters, causing it to take on water after departing from Libya's Zuwara city. A German rescue charity, RESQSHIP, reported that approximately 65 people were rescued, including the sisters' mother and brother, as well as several pregnant women and an infant. The sisters’ bodies were discovered under the surface amid the panic that ensued as the boat flooded. Reports suggest that many survivors suffered severe chemical burns from petrol mixing with seawater on board. This tragedy underscores the risks faced by migrants seeking safety in Europe, with over 700 fatalities recorded this year alone during such perilous journeys. Rescue operations and survivor safety measures are urgently called for by UN agencies.
