A boat carrying migrants and refugees has capsized near Libya. Many people are feared to have died. At least fifteen bodies were found on the coasts of Italy. This brings the total number of dead or missing to fifty-three.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said two Nigerian women survived. Libyan authorities rescued them. Their boat sank after leaving Libya on February 5th. This shows the dangers of the Central Mediterranean route. Criminal groups often use bad boats.
Survivors said people from many African countries were on the boat. They wanted to reach Europe. The weather has also been bad recently. This made the journey more dangerous. The bodies show how desperate people are.
More than 33,000 people have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean since 2014. An investigation has started for this latest tragedy. However, it is hard to find the criminals.
The European Commission said countries must work together. They want to stop these dangerous journeys. They also want to fight the smugglers. The Commission is looking for safer ways for people to travel. The IOM helped the two survivors. Their story shows the dangers of crossing the sea.