Hundreds feared dead in attempt to cross Mediterranean during cyclone

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Angela Giuffrida in RomeJanuary 26, 2026 at 03:54 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Hundreds of people may have drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean last week as Cyclone Harry battered southern Italy and Malta. A shipwreck with 50 confirmed deaths was reported by Maltese authorities, while one survivor told of a vessel carrying up to 380 people from Tunisia that had departed on January 20th. The cyclone generated huge waves in the Mediterranean, prompting an investigation into eight vessels launched by people smugglers during the past 10 days. This incident is part of a larger trend, with 66,296 people arriving by boat in Italy in 2025, representing a slight dip from the previous year. The UN's International Organization for Migration has registered at least 25,600 deaths and disappearances among people attempting the crossing since 2014.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

UNICEF 40% Guinea 40% Libya ×240% Alarm Phone 50% Sfax 50% Lampedusa 50% Tunisia ×470% Malta ×270% Italian Coastguard ×270% Cyclone Harry ×280% Italy ×590% Mediterranean Sea ×490%

Keywords

mediterranean sea 90% shipwreck 80% migrant deaths 80% crossing 70% cyclone harry 60% human smuggling 60% italian coastguard 50% refugee crisis 50% tunisia 40% search and rescue 40%