(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency) At least 25 people believed to be migrants trying to reach Europe were reported dead Monday after rough weather struck their vessel off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa, the Ansa news agency reported.
Coast guard officials told Ansa that the boat had more than 100 people on board. They criticized the people smugglers who would send migrants out in a boat in such harsh weather conditions. The boat was reportedly barely seaworthy.
The victims died of hypothermia.
Coast guard rescue units rushed to the boat after it set off a distress call overnight into Monday. All the vessel's occupants were
taken away by motorboat.
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