The bodies of 13 immigrants have
washed up on the coast of Sicily after a boat carrying 200 people ran
aground as it approached the shore.
When
the boat ran into difficulties in rough seas near the coastal town of
Scicli this morning, the migrants it was carrying jumped into the sea.
Most made it to shore and ran away, but a number of men were unable to swim strongly enough and drowned.
Warning: graphic content
Victims: 13 immigrants drowned off the coast of Sicily after their boat ran aground this morning
Horror: Rescuers pause to pay their respects to the 13 victims of the tragedy
Rescue boats and divers are now combing the waters looking for more bodies.
Two alleged leaders have been arrested on suspicion of people-trafficking, according to Italian newspapers.
One of the alleged smugglers is said to have lashed out at a swimmer who tried to rescue him from the water.
As
well as the 13 men who drowned, a number of other immigrants had to be
rescued, and several - including a pregnant woman - were taken to
hospital for treatment.
Accident: This boat was carrying around 200 people when it ran aground in rough seas near shore
Grief: A priest says prayers over the bodies of the victims, who were trying to immigrate to Italy
Location: The boat ran into difficulties near the coastal town of Scicli in Sicily, pictured
One immigrant who tried to escape after reaching the shore was hit by a car on a nearby road and suffered serious injuries.
In
addition, 20 children are among the 70 migrants apprehended so far,
most of whom came from Eritrea in East Africa, according to Corriere
Della Sera.
The nationality of the 13 victims, whose bodies were laid out on the shore, is not yet known.
However,
Sicily and surrounding islands are notorious hotspots for immigrants
arriving by boats from Tunisia, Libya and sub-Saharan Africa.
Tragic: A policeman stands next to some of the bodies washed up on the beach
Arrests: Two people were apprehended by police on suspicion of people-smuggling and taken into custody
Rescue: Quick-thinking bystanders helped to save the life of several migrants trying to swim to safety
The region has also attracted a large
number of Syrian immigrants in recent weeks following the continued
violence in the country's civil war.
This is not the first time in recent months that illegal migrants making the desperate journey to Italy have drowned on the way.
Last month six migrants died after they jumped out of a boat off the coast of Sicily.
The fishing trawler was illegally transporting
some 100 migrants when it hit a sandbank about 15 metres (50 feet) from the
shore.
Scene: Officers and firefighters stand by the boat, pictured in the background, which carried the group
It is thought that the six victims, believed to be Egyptian, thought they had arrived onshore and so jumped overboard.
They were identified as being between 17 and 27 years of age.
The 27-year-old was trying for a fifth time to get into Italy, investigators said following the incident in August.
In July seven immigrants drowned while trying to hold on to a fishing cage being towed to shore.
Scene: Officers and firefighters stand by the boat, pictured in the background, which carried the group
It is thought that the six victims, believed to be Egyptian, thought they had arrived onshore and so jumped overboard.
They were identified as being between 17 and 27 years of age.
The 27-year-old was trying for a fifth time to get into Italy, investigators said following the incident in August.
In July seven immigrants drowned while trying to hold on to a fishing cage being towed to shore.
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