Italian Rescuers Recover 10 Bodies After Malta Migrant Boat Capsizes With About 60 Aboard
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 7
Italian Rescuers Recover 10 Bodies After Malta Migrant Boat Capsizes With About 60 Aboard
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 7
Summary
10 bodies have been recovered after a migrant boat carrying about 60 people from Libya capsized 45 nautical miles east-south-east of Malta, with search operations still under way.
Around 48 people were rescued alive by a fishing boat in the area, and Italy sent a patrol vessel after Malta requested help in the operation coordinated by Maltese authorities.
The central Mediterranean crossing from North Africa to Italy and Malta remains one of the deadliest routes, with at least 827 deaths recorded so far this year.
More than 1,330 people died on the route in 2025, despite years of EU and Italian efforts to curb departures through cooperation with Libya, including €700 million in EU support since 2015.
Is EU funding for Libya's coastguard enabling crimes against humanity under the guise of border control?
Are thousands of Mediterranean deaths an unavoidable crisis or the intended consequence of Europe's border policies?
June 7, 2026 Malta Migrant Shipwreck: Escalating Deaths and the Urgent Need for Policy Change in the Central Mediterranean
Overview
On June 7, 2026, a boat carrying nearly 60 refugees and migrants capsized near Malta, highlighting the deadly risks of the Central Mediterranean migration route. A fishing boat rescued 48 people, while the Italian coastguard recovered 10 bodies and continued search and rescue operations with support from Maltese authorities. This tragedy underscores the ongoing crisis, where thousands have died or gone missing at sea, and reveals the urgent need for better rescue efforts and safer migration pathways. The disaster also exposes the dangers of overcrowded boats and the critical role of coordinated international response to save lives.