A tragic maritime disaster struck off the coast of Lampedusa on Wednesday, as a migrant boat carrying nearly 100 people capsized, leaving at least 27 dead and around a dozen missing, Italian authorities and UN agencies reported.

According to Filippo Ungaro, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Italy, sixty survivors were rescued and taken to a reception centre on the Italian island. Survivor testimonies suggest that up to 97 people were on board when the vessel departed from Libya.

Italian authorities have launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, with five ships, two aircraft, and a helicopter deployed to locate any remaining survivors. A law enforcement aircraft first spotted the capsized boat about 14 miles (23 km) off Lampedusa on Wednesday morning, with bodies visible in the water.

The confirmed death toll currently stands at 26, though officials cautioned that the figure is provisional and may rise as rescue efforts continue.

This latest tragedy adds to an already deadly year in the central Mediterranean, where at least 675 migrants have lost their lives attempting the perilous crossing from North Africa, according to UNHCR data. The humanitarian crisis underscores the ongoing dangers faced by those fleeing conflict, poverty, and persecution in search of safety in Europe.

Italian authorities continue their efforts to locate missing individuals and provide support to the survivors. (ILKHA)