58 dead, including children, in migrant boat crash in southern Italy

Authorities said 58 people, including children, died after a wooden boat carrying migrants crashed into rocks near the shore in southern Italy early on Sunday.

The boat, which set sail from Turkey several days ago with migrants from Afghanistan, Iran and several other countries on board, crashed in stormy weather near the resort of Stickato di Cotto on the east coast of southern Italy's Calabria region.

Manuela Corra, a regional government official, told Reuters the inconclusive death toll stood at 58. It said 81 people survived and 20 were taken to hospital, one of them in intensive care.

Guardia de Finansa customs police said one survivor had been arrested on migrant smuggling charges.

Cutro Mayor Antonio Chirazo said the dead included women and children. Exact figures for the number of children who have died are not yet available.