ROME, April 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The bodies of 19 migrants were recovered froman inflatable boat south of the island of Lampedusa on Wednesday by theItalian coastguard, a coastguard spokesman told AFP. Fifty-eight other people, including five children, were found alive duringthe rescue in the early hours of Wednesday and transported to Lampedusa bythe coastguard, according to spokesman Roberto D'Arrigo. The coastguard rescue was staged some 135 kilometres (85 miles) off theItalian island inside Libyan search-and-rescue waters. The boat was spotted by an Italian reconnaissance plane on Tuesday but therewere no Libyan coastguard or civilian ships in the area to assist, D'Arrigosaid. A decision was taken to send an Italian coastguard vessel from Lampedusa.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha April 01, 2026 14:32 UTC