The prime minister is facing increased pressure from her right-wing coalition partners as the number of migrants trying to enter the country via Lampedusa soars.
Survivors said that 41 people, shunted by traffickers onto a small makeshift iron vessel, had drowned after it capsized en route from Tunisia to Italy.
As the country’s right-wing government takes a hard line on Mediterranean immigration, the hip-hop artist Ghali has become a prominent voice of compassion.