Italian officials on trial over deadly 2023 migrant shipwreck

Italian Police and Coastguard Trial Over 2023 Shipwreck

Six members of the Italian police and coastguard have been put on trial concerning a shipwreck incident in February 2023, which resulted in the deaths of at least 94 migrants.

The shipwreck occurred near the tourist town of Steccato di Cutro, claiming the lives of 35 children among the victims when the boat crashed on coastal rocks.

The defendants face charges of involuntary manslaughter, accused of not initiating rescue operations despite being aware of the boat's presence for several hours. All six individuals have indicated their intention to testify.

The overcrowded vessel departed from Turkey, carrying passengers from Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, and Pakistan. Following the incident, numerous bodies and the boat's wreckage were found along the beach, marking it as the most severe disaster off the Calabria coast in ten years.

Approximately 80 individuals survived, although authorities suggest that the death toll could be higher.

Based on reporting by Africanews.