At least 59 migrants, including 12 children, have died and dozens more are feared missing after their boat sank in rough seas off southern Italy.

The overloaded vessel broke apart while trying to land with at least 150 people aboard near the coastal town of Crotone in the Calabria region.

Many bodies have been recovered from the beach at a nearby seaside resort.

Large numbers of people fleeing conflict and poverty make the crossing from Africa to Italy each year.

A baby thought to be only a few months old was among the dead, according to Italy’s Ansa news agency. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who visited the scene, said as many as 30 people may still be missing.

The coastguard said 80 people had been recovered alive, “including some who managed to reach the shore after the sinking”.

The boat, which sailed from Turkey several days ago, was carrying passengers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Iran. President Sergio Mattarella said many were fleeing “very difficult conditions”.

One survivor was arrested on migrant trafficking charges, customs police said.

The vessel is reported to have sunk after it crashed against rocks during rough weather, sparking a large search-and-rescue operation on land and at sea.

Video footage shows timber from the wreckage that has been smashed into pieces washing up on the beach, along with parts of the hull.

Survivors are seen huddled under blankets, attended to by Red Cross workers. Some have been taken to hospital.

“There had been landings but never a tragedy like this,” the mayor of Cruto, Antonio Ceraso, told Rai News.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – elected last year partly on a pledge to stem the flow of migrants into Italy – expressed “deep sorrow” for the incident, blaming the deaths on traffickers.

“It is inhumane to exchange the lives of men, women and children for the price of the ‘ticket’ they paid in the false perspective of a safe journey,” she said in a statement.

“The government is committed to preventing departures, and with them the unfolding of these tragedies, and will continue to do so.”

Ms Meloni’s right-wing government has vowed to stop migrants reaching Italy’s shores and in the last few days pushed through a tough new law tightening the rules on rescues.

Carlo Calenda, Italy’s former economy minister, said people in difficulty at sea should be rescued “whatever the cost”, but added that “illegal immigration routes must be closed”.

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

European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen said she was “deeply saddened” by the incident, adding that the “loss of life of innocent migrants is a tragedy”. She said it was crucial to “redouble our efforts” to make progress on reforming EU asylum rules to tackle the challenges regarding migration to Europe.

Pope Francis, who often defends the rights of migrants, has said he is praying for the dead, the missing and those who survived.

Regina Catrambone, director of the Migrant Offshore Aid Station which carries out search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean, told the BBC that European countries must work together to help those in need.

She also called for an end to the “myopic vision” that says that countries that are physically closer to Africa and the Middle East should take the lead on tackling the issue.

“Still there is no cooperation among the European states to actively co-ordinate together to go and help the people in need,” she said, urging governments to work together to improve search and rescue efforts and develop safe and legal routes.

BBC/Simeon Ugbodovon

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