‘Smugglers’ identified as death toll from Italian migrant boat tragedy rises

Rescue crews search for migrants feared dead after a shipwreck (Valeria Ferraro/AP)

Rescue teams have pulled another body from the sea, bringing the death toll from Italy’s latest migration tragedy to 64, as prosecutors identified smugglers who allegedly charged €8,000 each for the “voyage of death” from Turkey.

Premier Giorgia Meloni sent a letter to European leaders demanding quick action to respond to the migration crisis, insisting the only way to deal with it seriously and humanely is to stop migrants from risking their lives on dangerous sea crossings.