Hundreds of migrants feared drowned in the Mediterranean

Hundreds of migrants feared drowned in the Mediterranean
(Level: intermediate to upper-intermediate / B2 / ***)

Thousands of migrants crossing the Mediterranean from Libya.
Photo credit: www.qz.com

Italy has had to cope with a dramatic upsurge in migrants and refugees for the last few weeks. Indeed, the latest influx amounted to about 10,000 people who made their way from Libya across the Mediterranean. Among them were many women, children and newborns. 

You are going to watch a BBC report focusing on a new boat tragedy in which 400 migrants are feared drowned. 

Before watching

The following words could be useful:

a shipwreck: destruction of a ship at sea         naufrage    

to capsize: to overturn       chavirer   

to scale down: to reduce      réduire   

to deter... from  (doing..).:  to prevent / discourage... from...    dissuader... de...  

Map credit: www.dailymail.co.uk

While watching

Watch, listen and complete the missing information:

These are the first pictures of the  (1)...      of a desperate shipwreck.

Italy has rescued them and they have told a terrifying story: they boarded their boat in Libya and it sank out at sea.  (2) ...

In recent days Italy has rescued almost  (3) ... at sea.

This morning we watched one ship full of rescued migrants make its way to a Sicilian harbour. Slowly the migrants made their way off the boat; some needed extra help. Many have come from Eritrea, Somalia or Syria. Some of these migrants will have  (4) ... and they've made it; they've survived the world's most dangerous migrant journey. They may soon find that they've got to a continent  (5) ...

Italy continues to rescue migrants buit in November it scaled down its search and rescue efforts. It hoped that this might (6) ... 

The arrival of better spring weather has (7) ...

So far this year, a thousand migrants may (8) ... 

You can also watch the video on the BBC site by clicking HERE

When you are finished, you can check your answers:

These are the first pictures of the (1) 145 survivors of a desperate shipwreck.

Italy has rescued them and they have told a terrifying story: they boarded their boat in Libya and it sank out at sea.  (2)  400 of their fellow passengers including teenagers and children may have drowned.

In recent days Italy has rescued almost  (3)  10,000 migrants at sea.

This morning we watched one ship full of rescued migrants make its way to a Sicilian harbour. Slowly the migrants made their way off the boat; some needed extra help. Many have come from Eritrea, Somalia or Syria. Some of these migrants will have (4) spent their life savings on this trip and they've made it; they've survived the world's most dangerous migrant journey. They may soon find that they've got to a continent  (5) which doesn't really want them.

Italy continues to rescue migrants but in November it scaled down its search and rescue efforts. It hoped that this might (6) deter migrants from making the trip.  

The arrival of better spring weather has (7) encouraged more migrants to make the trip. 

So far this year, a thousand migrants may (8) have died trying to get to Europe.