Policy

At Least 82 African Migrants Dead After Ship Sinks Off Italian Island

More than 140 rescued

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At least 82 people have died after a boat carrying African migrants sank off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, the island's mayor says.

More than 140 have been rescued but hundreds are missing, officials say.

Passengers reportedly threw themselves into the sea as the vessel got into trouble and Italian officials were quoted as saying that dozens of people were still in the water.

Earlier this week, 13 migrants drowned while trying to reach Sicily.