CP323

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Two migrants dead and one missing due to collision during rescue operation

The 'CP 323' was in collision with a migrant craft on the evening of Aug 3, 2024, leaving two dead and one missing about 17 miles off the coast of Syracuse. The patrol boat was dispatched to the distressed boat and found difficult conditions upon its arrival. The weather and sea surface were rough, and the challenges of a nighttime rescue were exacerbated by low visibility. When the boats collided, several occupants of the migrant boat ended up in the water, and the patrol boat brought 34 survivors on board. One of them died of a pulmonary embolism as the boat made its way back to shore, and another passed away after he was delivered to shore and taken to a hospital for care. One person remaineds missing, and a search effort was still under way as of Aug 5. 10 more survivors sustained serious injuries, including fractures, and were delivered to hospitals around the region for higher care. The prosecutor's office in Syracuse was investigating the circumstances of the accident, and the Italian Coast Guard is cooperating in the probe.