Lampedusa is the southernmost part of Italy and is close to the coast of North Africa. Every year thousands of African migrants try to reach Europe through this island. They often make the journey across the Mediterranean in overcrowded boats unsuited to the sea conditions.

So it was in February. Then the bodies of 59 people were washed up in southern Italy. A boat departing from Turkey may be overloaded and unable to handle the weather at sea.

In June, 79 people died when a boat from Libya capsized and sank off the Greek coast. It is estimated that a total of four hundred people were on board.

Nearly 90,000 migrants have arrived in Italy this year, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Most of them came from Tunisia or Libya.