Over 30 migrants, including a baby, have tragically lost their lives and many others have survived after their overcrowded boat sank in rough waters at Calabria, southern Italy.

The vessel, carrying around 100 people, reportedly fell apart while attempting to land near the town of Crotone in Calabria region. Numerous bodies have been found on the beach of a nearby seaside resort.

Each year, numerous people flee from conflict and poverty in Africa to Italy, often making perilous sea crossings.

It remains unclear where this particular boat had originated from, however, according to the Adnkronos news agency, those on board were from Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

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The vessel crashed into rocks during the harsh weather conditions, leading to its sinking, as reported by the news agency. Italian authorities have launched a significant search-and-rescue operation on land and sea.

“The death toll has surpassed 30,” said Danilo Maida, spokesperson for firefighters in Calabria. “Several dead are reported among the migrants, (and) about 40 survivors,” stated the national firefighters’ department via the Telegram messaging app.

Italy’s new right-wing government has pledged to halt the influx of migrants arriving on Italy’s shores and, in recent days, enforced stringent new legislation to tighten rescure regulations.

According to monitoring organizatins, more than 20,000 people have died or gone missing in the central Mediterranean since 2014.