Hundreds feared missing or dead in Mediterranean shipwrecks, UN says

Hundreds of migrants may be missing at sea or feared dead following reports of multiple deadly shipwrecks in the central Mediterranean in recent days, the UN’s migration agency warned on Monday.

The International Organisation for Migration said it was “deeply concerned” by the reports, which it was currently verifying.

“Several boats are believed to have been involved over the past 10 days, with preliminary information suggesting that hundreds of people may be missing at sea or feared dead,” a statement said.

The agency warned that severe weather was significantly hampering search and rescue operations.

IOM spokesman Jorge Galindo said there had been “three shipwrecks reported on January 23 and 25”, with potentially at least 104 deaths.