At least 43 migrants including a tiny baby die after overloaded boat breaks apart in a storm off coast of Italy

AT least 43 migrants including a baby have died after their wooden boat broke apart in a storm off the coast of Italy. The overloaded vessel was destroyed as it crashed into rocky reefs on Sunday, with children among the victims. More than 40 migrants have died after their overloaded boat fell apart The Coast Guard confirmed 43 bodies have so far been recovered along the shore. Some 80 survivors have been pulled from the water. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said that the migrants were crowded into a 66ft long boat in adverse weather conditions. A chunk of the boat, along with piles of splintered wood, littered the beach at Steccato di Cutro, part of Calabria’s coastline along the Ionian sea. Some of the survivors tried to keep warm, wrapped in what appeared to be colorful blankets or sheets. A helicopter and motorboats were deployed in search efforts, including vessels from state firefighters, border police and the coast guard. Meloni said: “It’s inhumane to exchange the lives of men, women and children for the price of a ticket paid by them in the false prospect of a safe voyage.” Pope Francis said he was praying for everyone caught up in a migrant boat shipwreck. He said in his weekly address to crowds in St. Peter’s Square: “I  heard with sorrow of the shipwreck off the Calabrian coast near Crotone. “Already 40 dead have been recovered, many of them children. “I pray for every one of them, for the missing and for the other surviving migrant.” THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY… The Sun is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. For iPhone click here, for Android click here.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.