One dead as ship arrives in Italy with over 400 illegal immigrants

Australian Broadcast Corporation News 
Oct 16, 2001

A ship carrying more than 400 illegal immigrants locked in its cargo hold has arrived in
Italy with one woman, apparently pregnant, found dead.

The boat arrived in south-west Italy early in the day after a six-day journey from Turkey
during which the immigrants, mostly Kurds from Turkey and Iran, were never able to leave
the hold. 

"It is the first time we have seen a ship with immigrants locked into its cargo hold from the
outside," a police spokesman told news agency Reuters. 

The 416 immigrants, including 39 women and 62 children, were held in the ship's hold with
only small slits providing fresh air during the trip from Izmir, on Turkey's western coast, to
Crotone, at the base of Italy's boot. 

Police said the 27-year-old woman found dead could have suffered from the strain of the
trip. An autopsy still has to be performed. 

Eight people were also receiving treatment in hospital for minor ailments. The rest of the
immigrants were taken to a reception centre outside Crotone. 

Police detained the ship's four Turkish crew members for questioning over the woman's
death. 

They already faced charges of organising illegal immigration. 

A further 43 illegal immigrants, this time from North Africa, also landed on an island south
of Sicily today. 

Hundreds of illegal immigrants arrive on Italy's shores every month, mostly from Asia,
North Africa and Eastern Europe. 

Many do not stay in Italy but instead make their way to northern Europe to link up with
family and find work.
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