The boat was said to have been overloaded and broke in two when it hit a rock. According to Italian media, more than 100 migrants were on the boat, 50 of whom were rescued. Survivors are still being sought, reports the Italian newspaper La Stampa.
Exactly how many people were on board and how many of them died is not yet clear. Forty bodies are said to have been born at this point, many of them children. At the moment, many migrants are still missing.
Found on the beach
The bodies were found on the beach at Steccato di Cutro, a coastal town near the town of Crotone. According to news agency Ansa, there are also bodies at sea that need to be recovered. According to the Italian news agency Adnkronos, the migrants come from Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.
