The bodies of 19 migrants were recovered from an inflatable boat south of the island of Lampedusa on Wednesday by the Italian coastguard.
Fifty-eight other people, including five children, were found alive during the rescue in the early hours of Wednesday and transported to Lampedusa, according to coastguard spokesman Roberto D’Arrigo.
Lampedusa mayor Filippo Mannino said seven people, including two children, were being treated in hospital for “hypothermia and intoxication from hydrocarbon fumes.”
Similarly, two foreign nationals crossing to the UK reportedly died this morning, according to French media. Among the around 300 migrants arriving in five small boats, two were reported dead and a third person missing.
The new stream of arriving migrant comes as the Channel deal between France and England hit a standstill. The deal was extended by two months—at a cost of £16.2 million—to enable UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to negotiate terms of a new agreement, as the prior one expired at midnight last night.
French authorities will reportedly continue patrolling the coastline to prevent new crossings.
