Lampedusa, Aug. 14 -- At least 27 migrants and refugees drowned on Thursday following a tragic shipwreck off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa, according to a statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, marking yet another deadly incident in the perilous Central Mediterranean migration route.

In a post on X, Grandi stated that over 700 refugees and migrants have lost their lives in the Central Mediterranean so far in 2025, while emphasising the urgent need to enhance all aspects of the response to deal with such situations.

"At least 27 people have drowned in a tragic shipwreck near #Lampedusa. Over 700 refugees and migrants have now died in 2025 in the Central Mediterranean. All re...