ROME — A patrol boat recovered the bodies of ten individuals after a fishing vessel rescued 48 migrants from a capsized craft near Malta, according to Italy’s coast guard on Sunday.
The coast guard said it continues to search an area roughly 52 miles (84 kilometers) southeast of Malta, where the incident occurred.
The vessel, carrying about 60 people, had departed from Libya, officials said. At the request of Maltese authorities, the Italian navy dispatched a patrol boat to the scene.
Libya remains a primary departure point for migrants attempting the hazardous crossing of the Mediterranean in small boats, a journey that has claimed thousands of lives.
The European Union has an agreement with the Libyan government aimed at reducing migrant flows, providing roughly €700 million since 2015, much of which supports border management.
Italy’s central Mediterranean migration strategy has long depended on cooperation with Libya, including assistance, training, and equipment for the Libyan coast guard to intercept migrant vessels.
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