Rome - The death toll from the sinking of a migrant boat off an Italian island carrying about 500 people could well top 200.
Italian officials say more than 114 people -- including several women and four small children -- have drowned and over 200 are still unaccounted for after a boat caught fire and sank off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa.
The 20-meter vessel caught fire after the migrants, mainly from Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia according to media reports, set fire to a blanket after the ship started to take water in order to attract the attention of passing ships.
But the fire soon spread to the rest of the boat, and the ship capsized as migrants moved to avoid the fire.
Divers were still searching for possible survivors of the deadliest accidents over recent months in the Mediterranean Sea crossing, that thousands of African migrants make every year.
So far, 155 people have been rescued.
Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta described the accident as a huge tragedy. He rushed to the scene with Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Angelino Alfano.
Thousands of African migrants try the hazardous Mediterranean crossing to Italy every year to Sicily.
Sicily is the destination for thousands of migrants from Africa, who attempt the dangerous sea crossing. This was the second disaster in a week involving migrants attempting to reach Sicily.
A recent study found some 6 200 migrants had died in southern Italian waters since 1994.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees today expressed shock on the loss of life.
UNHCR said it is actively engaging with countries in the region to provide effective alternatives for people resorting to taking these dangerous journeys so they do not have to risk their lives.
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta announced a National Day of Mourning on Friday, 4 October, to honour all those who lost their lives in the terrible tragedy. – SAnews.gov.za-Xinhua-AGI
