Italian authorities have began post-mortem examinations into the cause of death of 26 teenage girls whose bodies were recovered in the Mediterranean Sea on Sunday.
This is as the federal government called for an international inquiry into their death, which it described as “a monumental loss and a sad moment for our country”.
The girls, aged 14-18, are believed to have been migrants from Niger and Nigeria, embarked on the treacherous route to Europe from Libya over the weekend.
The bodies of the victims were brought on a Spanish ship to Italy on Sunday, where the authorities are looking into how they died.
The autopsies, which are being carried out in Salerno in southern Italy, did not immediately reveal any serious wounds, such as lacerations caused by engine blades, the prosecutor’s office told the media.
But it is hoped the autopsies will be able to ascertain whether the girls were abused during the journey, and better determine their ages.
Italian investigators have said there is no evidence yet that they were victims of sex trafficking.
