20 die as boat sinks off Albania
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An Albanian that tried to reach Italy is rescued and brought to shore after his speedboat capsized.
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TIRANA, Albania (CNN) -- Twenty people were killed when a speedboat carrying a group of Albanians capsized in stormy seas off the coastal city of Vlora.
Italian navy and rescue helicopters on Saturday picked up eleven people who survived a night of pounding by 20-foot waves in the Adriatic Sea.
The 27-foot boat was full of Albanian migrants trying to reach the Italian coast, Italian navy commander Ivano Vaschieri said.
Among the survivors were two suspected organizers of the smuggling operation. They were charged with murder, along with two Albanian police officials and the vice-director of the Vlora port, who are accused of aiding in the operation.
Four of the five suspects are blood relatives.
Shortly after the boat capsized, Vaschieri said, one of its pilots sent a distress call to a popular Albanian television channel, "Top Channel TV."
He said a single Italian navy ship started searching the area immediately, but surging seas and powerful 40 to 50 knot winds (46 to 58 mph) stopped further rescue operations.
Navy and army ships were joined by navy helicopters Saturday morning, where they discovered the capsized boat and survivors.
Some of the group were hospitalized, while others were handed over to Albanian police authorities, Vaschieri said.
The fatalities included 17 men and three women, all between the ages of 25 and 40, he added.
