Lampedusa: Day Of Mourning For African Migrants

The Italian government has declared an official day of mourning after the tragedy of Lampedusa, where more than 100 African migrants died trying to reach the island.

Italy's Minister of Integration, Cecile Kyenge, said a minute's silence will be held in all schools across the country.

"We will work with all the ministers in order to tackle this emergency and to start making a long-term plan to cope with it," she said.

Divers have recovered another 18 bodies from the sea following the tragedy where the boat began taking on water before sinking on Thursday.

Italian officials visited at temporary morgue in Lampedusa airport

Giovanni de Leonardo, head of the diving team said: "Today we went underwater three times and we recovered 18 bodies, of which 10 were outside the ship at the bottom of the sea, and eight were recovered tonight from inside the ship."

Interior Minister Angelino Alfaro said he had seen 93 bodies in the morgue, including four children and two pregnant women.

"Unfortunately, dozens more will arrive tonight, and more tomorrow," he added.

At least 114 men, women and children died and at least 200 more are still unaccounted for after they were tipped into the sea when the vessel capsized. None were wearing lifejackets.

When the boat began to sink, some migrants set fire to a blanket to attract the attention of passing ships. But as the flames spread, some passengers panicked and surged to one side, causing it to overturn.

Lampedusa is the stopping-off point for migrants attempted to reach Italy

Smugglers charge thousands of dollars per person to take migrants to Europe on overcrowded boats that do not have life jackets.

Lampedusa, 70 miles (11km) off Tunisia and closer to Africa than the Italian mainland, has seen successive waves of illegal immigration.

Migrants who arrive in Lampedusa are processed in centres, screened for asylum and often sent back home.

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