Rome: More than 40 people are feared dead after a migrant boat sank in the Mediterranean, Italian authorities on the island of Lampedusa said on Wednesday.
Only 10 survivors have been rescued so far. At least 56 people were on board the small inflatable boat, which departed from Sfax, Tunisia, bound for Europe.
Rough seas are hampering the search for additional survivors, with many believed to have fallen overboard. Authorities say the chances of survival are low.
The 10 survivors were found in a dinghy along with six bodies. The boat had left the Tunisian port on Sunday, the authorities said. The survivors were brought to Lampedusa, a long-time focal point of migration across the Mediterranean. Deadly accidents are common during the perilous crossing from North Africa to Europe.
According to UN estimates, more than 2,200 migrants drowned or went missing last year - though the actual toll is likely higher. (DPA)
