Lampedusa Island - Tragedy has struck as a shipwreck near Italy's Lampedusa island claiming the lives of at least forty-one migrants, as reported by the ANSA news agency and cited by BBC.

This grim revelation follows the survival of a group of four individuals who managed to endure the disaster. They recounted to rescuers that they were aboard a boat that had departed from Sfax in Tunisia, only to sink en route to Italy.

It's important to note that migrant boat calamities are regrettably frequent in this region. For years, migrants have embarked on treacherous journeys aboard unseaworthy vessels provided by smugglers, attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing to reach the southern shores of Europe, often aspiring for asylum or the prospect of reuniting with family and securing jobs, particularly in northern European nations.

Reports indicate that the toll from this year alone has surpassed 1,800 lives lost during the passage from North Africa to Europe.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, leading a right-wing government that includes the anti-migrant League party, has mobilized the European Union in collaborative efforts to engage Tunisia's leadership. These endeavors, coupled with the promise of assistance, are aimed at curbing migrant smuggling. However, despite multiple high-level visits by European leaders to Tunisia, the boats continue to set sail nearly daily from Tunisian ports.