Six die in immigrant boat disaster

A Russian cargo ship cruising off southern Italy discovered suspected illegal immigrants on a small boat – six of whom were dead and six alive, officials said today.

The Russian ship “Brother4” found the small boat about 23 miles south of Santa Maria di Leuca, near Lecce in southern Italy, said an official with the General Command of the national port authority.

The ANSA news agency quoted Italian port authorities as saying there were fears there might be others dead as well: The Greek Coast Guard told Italian authorities a small boat had left the Greek-Albanian coast on January 16 with about 30 people aboard, ANSA said.