ROME: A navy video of the corpse-filled interior of the sunken fishing boat that capsized last month off Libya coupled with survivor testimony make plausible fears that some 800 smuggled migrants died in the shipwreck, prosecutors in Sicily said Friday.
Only 28 survivors, including one suspected smuggler and his alleged assistant, and 24 bodies were found in the Mediterranean in the rescue mission involving a container ship which was first on the scene. The suspects are being investigated for manslaughter, causing the shipwreck and aiding and abetting illegal immigration.
“The dimensions of the fishing boat, documented in the inspection of the ship, the imprecise but very high number of corpses able to be seen inside the wreck or right nearby, the convergent statements by survivors, indicate there were quite a few hundred persons, perhaps 800,” the prosecutors’ office said in a statement.
The prosecutors said the video of the undersea wreck’s inspection will remain sealed to “protect the dignity of the deceased.” “The fishing boat was crammed in every corner, including interior, closed spaces, with migrants,” they said.
The shipwreck galvanized the European Union to devise a strategy to combat the smuggling, which has brought tens of thousands of migrants to Italy after sea rescues this year alone.
On Friday, hundreds of the 2,200 migrants who were rescued in 11 separate operations coordinated by the Italian coast guard a day earlier reached land.
Prosecutors in Catania said the last of the survivors from last month’s shipwreck to give testimony was a man from Bangladesh who was hospitalized for health problems he had before the capsizing.
Names and nationalities of the dead appear likely never to be known. “It is not possible to establish the precise number of women and children, and not even their countries of origin,” the prosecutors said.
They noted a similar fishing boat rescued by the navy last year had more than 870 migrants aboard.
In the hours after the capsizing, some survivors said smugglers had locked hundreds of migrants in the hold. But prosecutors said Friday that although the doors were closed, they weren’t locked.
Aided by the navy’s undersea inspection, investigators determined at least one door was open and secured to the bulkhead. Two survivors later testified they were able to emerge from the hold and move to the deck. As a result, prosecutors dropped an initial accusation of kidnapping against the suspects.
Survivors recounted how the smugglers tried to “embark even more people, who, however, weren’t able to board because the fishing boat couldn’t hold any more,” the prosecutors said.
Investigators concluded that the boat capsized in part because it was overcrowded and because the crew made “erroneous maneuvers” that caused the vessel to collide repeatedly with the container ship trying to help.
Watery graves: Video of sunken ship shows hundreds of bodies
Watery graves: Video of sunken ship shows hundreds of bodies
Syrian foreign minister: National interest and the welfare of the people top priority
- Hassan Al-Shaibani highlights reconstruction efforts, internal reforms during Munich discussion
MUNICH: The Syrian Arab Republic Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani spoke on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference about the country’s ongoing recovery, internal reforms, and the impact of Israeli military actions.
“We are satisfied with the achievements we have made, but we continue striving to deliver the best for our people,” Al-Shaibani said.
“We will not tire or give up and will work day and night to build the Syria we aspire to, together with our citizens.”
In the Syrian Arab News Agency report the minister stressed that the Syrian state had not shirked its responsibility for what happened in Sweida and other areas, noting that “the national interest and the welfare of the people have always been our top priority.”
He emphasized that the diversity in Syria is a source of strength.
We live in a country exhausted by war and by the mismanagement inherited from the deposed regime.
Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani
“We share national interests, including the unity and territorial integrity of the country, and we operate within the framework of the law,” he added.
Al-Shaibani highlighted progress in rebuilding state institutions and restoring trust between the government and the public.
“We live in a country exhausted by war and by the mismanagement inherited from the deposed regime,” he said. “Syrian society remains fragmented, both inside the country and abroad, and continues to face humanitarian and infrastructure challenges.”
He emphasized that efforts to unify the country include consolidating state control over weapons, a principle established after the revolution’s victory.
The minister also highlighted the role of Syrian citizens in the recovery process.
“What we rely on is our people, who possess determination and ambition,” he said, adding that “lifting sanctions is the key to reconstruction.”
He noted that there are still displacement camps in the country and that many refugees continue to live abroad.
Turning to external issues, he expressed concern over Israeli military activity.
“Since Dec. 8, 2024, Syria has faced more than 1,000 airstrikes, the occupation of new areas in southern Syria, and over 500 ground incursions,” he said, adding that the Syrian state has pursued a realistic approach toward Israel, prioritizing reconstruction and national recovery.
He noted, however, that the policy might not have been acceptable to Israel, which “continues to seek regional conflicts.”
Al-Shaibani emphasized that negotiations should result in Israel withdrawing from the areas it occupied after Dec. 8, respecting Syrian sovereignty and airspace.
Syria’s deputy interior minister met with Germany’s interior minister on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
They discussed security developments and prospects for cooperation, according to a statement from the interior ministry.
Maj. Gen. Abdulkader Al-Tahhan held talks with German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt during the annual conference.
The Syrian Interior Ministry said the meeting included a review of current developments in Syria and their impact on security and humanitarian issues.
It added that both sides stressed the importance of coordination and information-sharing in support of regional and international stability.
The statement said the officials also discussed possible cooperation between the two interior ministries, including training, capacity-building and the exchange of expertise.
