Four of the six found drowned off the Italian coast have been confirmed as Egyptian nationals. Investigations into the identities of the remaining two are ongoing, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The six migrants are thought to have been on board a boat containing more than 100 people, “a large number” of which are thought to be Egyptian, said the ministry.
“The embassy [in Rome] closely follows all issues related to the Egyptian illegal immigration ship,” said a ministry statement. The statement stressed that the embassy is following “operations to identify minors who were on board the boat and the estimated 49 minors have been placed in children’s care centres in Italy, according to Italian law.”
The migrants, who were attempting to enter Italy illegally, are thought to have begun their journey from Egypt’s north coast a week before their boat was found off the coast of a tourist beach on the island of Sicily.
The fishing trawler hit a sand bank close to the shore and the migrants began to swim to shore, but those who drowned thought they had reached their final destination, reported AFP on Monday.
The ministry statement pointed out there has been “a large level of Italian reaction,” adding that the mayor of the local town of Catania announced a day of mourning to take place on Wednesday.
Both the Italian Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs conveyed their regret over the incident and, according to the ministry, they explained: “Italy will continue its efforts in the fight against illegal immigration and tighten the laws in this regard, in cooperation with the European Union.”
