Ten people died and some 50 went missing off the Libyan coast when a boat went down that was carrying close to 100 undocumented migrants, Italian media reported Saturday.
The shipwreck occurred Friday afternoon, 40 miles from the Libyan coastline and, navy commander Martino Baldari told the daily La Repubblica, the number of missing is not yet clear, given that estimates were based on statements by the survivors, who have indicated that there were 98 people aboard.
Up to now, Italian rescue craft have picked up 39 survivors, while another 10 people were found dead, including 7 women.
According to these figures, Baldari said the number of missing could rise to 49.
For the moment, Italian ships continue searching for the missing.
Italy continues to receive immigrants from Africa who are rescued on the high seas by the ships of Operation Mare Nostrum, launched on Oct. 3 after the Lampedusa tragedy, in which more than 300 Somalis and Eritreans died.
At present, according to local media, the Italian navy ship Etna is headed for the Sicilian port of Palermo with 700 immigrants aboard who are likely to set foot on Italian soil Sunday.
Another 260 landed Friday night at the Sicilian port of Catania after being saved at sea.
On Saturday, Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano again asked the European Union to assume a greater responsibility for protecting its southern border.