Illegal Albanian Immigrants Die in Crossing

10/01/2004| IslamWeb

Around 19 people have died trying to reach Italy's coast from Albania. The illegal immigrants were found in an inflatable boat by Italian coastguards. Around ten young men survived the ordeal. The vessel left the Albanian shore and was spotted in rough seas by an Italian helicopter. It was towed back to Albania. The survivors, some in a state of shock and hypothermia, have been taken into Italian custody. In January last year, 35 Kurds died trying to make the same crossing. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Italian coastguards carry one of the survivors of a dinghy which capsized near Sazan Island off Albania, January 10, 2004. (REUTERS/FAP Photo/Gent Shkullaku)