2 migrants killed, 31 missing as boats capsize off Italy

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) – Two bodies, a woman and a child, were recovered and 31 migrants are still missing after two boats capsized overnight off Italy, local media reported on Sunday.

The Italian Coast Guard rescued 57 migrants after the boats capsized off the Italian island of Lampedusa, according to ANSA news agency.

The first boat had reportedly 48 migrants on board, and the other boat was carrying 42 people from Sub-Saharan African, said ANSA.

A child and woman found dead after the incidents.

As of July, the number of irregular migrants who have reached Italy by sea since the beginning of the year has exceeded 85,000.

In the irregular migration flow towards Europe, the Central Mediterranean route has stood out as one of the heavily trafficked paths in recent years.