Refugee Boat Sinks Near Lampedusa, Leaving 20 Missing

Seven survivors, including an 8-year-old Syrian boy, were rescued, while hopes of finding more survivors dwindle.

A refugee boat carrying migrants from Libya to Italy sank near the island of Lampedusa on New Year's Eve, leaving 20 people missing.
Seven individuals, including migrants from Syria, Egypt, and Sudan, were rescued by the Italian Coast Guard.
An 8-year-old Syrian boy, Mustafa, survived the tragedy and has been reunited with his father in Germany after being treated by the Red Cross.
The Mediterranean remains one of the most dangerous migration routes, with over 2,000 deaths recorded in 2024 alone, according to UN data.
Italian authorities continue search efforts, though the chances of finding additional survivors are considered slim.