June 08, 2026
At least 11 people have died after a migrant boat capsized in waters off Malta, charity group Sea-Watch said on Monday, while around 50 more were rescued at sea by a fishing vessel in the area.
On Sunday, the Italian coastguard said the vessel had departed from Libya carrying around 60 people before overturning about 45 nautical miles east-southeast of Malta. Rome dispatched a patrol boat to the area, saying it had initially recovered 10 bodies.
Sea-Watch said on social media platform X that the death toll was at least 11, adding that 48 survivors had been rescued by the vessel Tuncay Sagun 2.
As the summer season approaches, migrant departures typically rise along the North Africa-Europe route, with Italy, Malta and Greece the nearest landing points for those attempting the perilous sea crossing.
