Alpha News

Tragedy: Migrant Bodies Wash Ashore in Sicily and Calabria

Published February 18, 2026, 09:30

At least fifteen bodies of migrants have been found washed ashore along the coasts of Sicily and Calabria in recent days, believed to be victims of their attempt to reach Italy via the dangerous central Mediterranean Sea. Authorities attribute the deaths to the adverse weather conditions, while aid organizations express fears for hundreds of missing people. One body was discovered by students near Tropea, while another woman was found without identification. A prosecutor's investigation has been launched. The central Mediterranean route is considered the most dangerous in the world for migrants, with over 2,200 deaths in 2023 alone, according to the IOM. This tragedy highlights the need for safer pathways and more effective management of migration flows.