SICILY: Police recovered the bodies of nine men and women yesterday, after a boat bringing more than 100 illegal immigrants ran aground off Sicily.
Police said seven immigrants, including two women, were found near the town of Scicli di Pozzallo in southeast Sicily after rough seas and high winds hit the area.
It appears they drowned while trying to swim to shore near Scicli di Pozzallo, after bad weather prevented Italian rescuers reaching the stranded boat.
The coast guard found another two bodies floating in the waters just off the coast.
They were part of a group of more than 100 illegal immigrants who set out for shore after leaving a wooden boat that ran aground just off the coast.
A number of immigrants were taken to hospital and police were searching the area for more victims or survivors.
Their nationalities were not immediately known.
"The conditions were terrible, there were very high waves," said Michele Maltese, a port official in nearby Pozzallo, "Therefore, one can imagine in what kind of conditions these people tried to reach the shore."
Survivors said the boat, 15m (49ft) long, had been carrying about 200 people.
By the time it was reached, it was empty.
Some survivors were taken to hospital for treatment.
Italy had been alerted to its approach by the Maltese authorities late on Thursday, but strong winds and rough seas meant it could not be intercepted.
Thousands of illegal immigrants try to enter Italy every year from north Africa, often in boats and ships that are not seaworthy.