Up to 50 missing after boat sinks

Up to 50 migrants went missing after a large dinghy sank in the Mediterranean, Sea Italian rescuers said yesterday, while more than 1,500 were picked up from other vessels over a 24-hour period.

The Mediterranean Sea has become the world’s most deadly border zone for migrants. More than 2,000 migrants and refugees have died so far this year in bids to reach Europe by boat — compared with 3,279 deaths during the whole of last year, said the International Organisation for Migration.

An Italian navy helicopter on Tuesday spotted a rubber boat that appeared to be deflating, the navy said, and dropped life rafts to the migrants on board. The boat then sank, it said.