Three sisters drown in migrant boat tragedy off Libya coast
Three young sisters, aged 9, 11, and 17, drowned during a perilous Mediterranean crossing after their overcrowded rubber boat began taking on water, German rescue group RESQSHIP reported.
The vessel, which had departed from Zuwara, Libya, was struck by waves up to 1.5 meters high, causing panic and flooding among the approximately 65 passengers.
Survivors including the girls’ mother, brother, three pregnant women, and a seven-month-old baby were evacuated by the RESQSHIP ship Nadir and the Italian Coast Guard.
Many survivors suffered severe chemical burns from a mixture of fuel and seawater. One passenger remains missing after falling overboard.
The central Mediterranean remains one of the world’s deadliest migration routes, with over 700 deaths recorded this year alone.
UN agencies have repeatedly called for increased search and rescue efforts and safer conditions for those attempting the crossing.
