Nine dead after boat capsize in Lampedusa

Nine people, including a baby, have died and 15 others are suspected to be missing after the boat they were traveling in capsized in stormy weather near the island of Lampedusa.

Italy's coastguard said it had received a request for cooperation from Maltese search and rescue officials after the ship capsized about 50km south-east of the island of Lampedusa on Wednesday.

The Coast Guard sent patrols to the scene, who managed to rescue 22 survivors and found nine dead individuals, including an infant.

Search and rescue operations were extremely challenging due to unfavorable weather and sea conditions, with waves reaching up to 2.5 meters, the coast guard added.

The nationality of the boat's passengers is not yet known. The survivors were taken to Lampedusa, which is located between Tunisia, Malta and the largest Italian island of Sicily, reports "The Guardian".

UNHCR's communication officer, Filippo Ungaro, through a post on the "X" social network, said that the survivors were "in a state of hypothermia and shock".

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It has been announced that the baby who lost her life was a few months old girl.