At least 58 illegal migrants killed as boat sinks off Italy

Colombo (News1st) - At least 58 illegal migrants have died after their boat broke apart in rough seas in southern Italy. According to local news sources, the individuals on board were from Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia.

The wooden vessel carrying upto 150 migrants ran into trouble in seas near the coastal town of Crotone, in Calabria. 

Reports indicate that many bodies have been recovered from the beach at a nearby seaside resort. The coastguard, as quoted by foreign media, said 80 people had been recovered alive, "including some who managed to reach the shore after the sinking".

Manuela Curra, a local government official, told Reuters news agency that the boat had left the Turkish coastal city of Izmir three or four days ago.

Large numbers of people fleeing conflict and poverty make the crossing from Africa to Italy each year.