Six migrants died as they tried to reach a beach in Catania this morning, Italian media reported.

They were in a group of 120 migrants who arrived on a fishing boat which ran aground off the beach. All were young men, with on of them thought to be some 15 years old. They are believed to have been Syrian.

The dead bodies were washed up on shore. Many members of the group evaded the police upon making it to shore and police patrols are now searching for them.

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