Italy: At Least 15 Migrant Bodies Wash Ashore

At least 15 bodies have been found washed up on the shores of Italy in recent days. Authorities believe they are migrants who were trying to reach the country via the Mediterranean Sea.

The bodies were found on beaches in Sicily and Calabria. Officials said the deaths were likely due to poor weather conditions.

The central Mediterranean migration route is considered the most dangerous in the world. Many migrants depart from Libya and Tunisia on unseaworthy vessels.

Aid organizations fear that hundreds of people have died at sea this winter. In 2023, over 2,200 people lost their lives trying to reach Europe by sea, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Students found a body near Tropea, in Calabria. A dead woman without documents was also found. The prosecutor's office is conducting an investigation.