Three young sisters, aged 9, 11, and 17, tragically drowned when an overcrowded rubber boat carrying dozens of migrants capsized during a perilous crossing from Libya to Italy, the German sea rescue organization RESQSHIP reported on Sunday.

The incident occurred in the central Mediterranean, a route notorious for its dangers, as the vessel struggled against waves reaching up to 1.5 meters (4.9 feet).

The boat, which departed from Zuwara, Libya, late Friday night, was carrying 65 migrants, including three pregnant women, several children, and a seven-month-old infant. RESQSHIP’s rescue vessel, Nadir, was alerted to the crisis by Alarm Phone, a hotline for migrants in distress, and reached the scene on Saturday. Despite their efforts, the bodies of the three sisters were found inside the dangerously overcrowded boat. Another individual who fell overboard earlier in the journey remains missing, according to RESQSHIP.

Italy’s coast guard evacuated 14 survivors, prioritizing those requiring medical attention and their relatives, to the island of Lampedusa. The Nadir later brought the remaining survivors and the bodies of the three girls ashore. Authorities in Lampedusa have since provided medical care and psychological support to the survivors, many of whom were traumatized by the ordeal.

This tragedy underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean, where thousands of migrants risk their lives each year fleeing conflict, poverty, and persecution. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 1,200 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean in 2025 alone, with the central route remaining the deadliest migration path globally. Italian officials reported a 20% increase in migrant arrivals to Lampedusa this year compared to 2024, straining local resources.

RESQSHIP called for urgent action to address the root causes of such dangerous crossings, urging European governments to establish safer migration pathways. “These deaths are a stark reminder of the human cost of inaction,” a RESQSHIP spokesperson said. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with authorities examining the boat’s condition and the circumstances leading to the capsizing. (ILKHA)