Eighteen people have died and five have been hospitalized after an incident involving a migrant boat off the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

ROME, April 1 (Xinhua) — At least 18 people have been killed and five others are in critical condition after a boat carrying migrants was found floating off the Italian island of Lampedusa on Wednesday.

According to the ANSA news agency, Italian Coast Guard patrol boats spotted a vessel in distress near the Pelagie Islands. They described the scene as heartbreaking.

According to the local daily newspaper La Sicilia, a total of 18 bodies were recovered from the boat, presumably from hypothermia.

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