In one of the worst disasters to strike migrants trying to reach Europe from Libya, most of the victims were from Eritrea.

For relatives and survivors, the Lampedusa Coastguard organized a special trip to the disaster site.

In memory of the victims, horns and sirens were sounded from its vessels.

Solomon Assefa, one of the 150 survivors, told the that his friends’ bodies were never properly buried. Their families have been in a perpetual state of mourning.

“That’s why we make this pilgrimage to Lampedusa every year, offering prayers.” The day began with a candlelit vigil at 03:00 to commemorate the exact time the ship sank with more than 500 migrants on board.

A tragedy occurred near the shoreline of the Italian island. A fire on board forced passengers to jump into the sea.

The majority of the dead were from Eritrea, a repressive one-party state in the Horn of Africa. Every October, Alex comes to Lampedusa to honor his fallen comrades and express gratitude for his own survival.

For the first time since the disaster, some survivors and relatives have visited the island.

The reported that Kokob Dawit felt closer to her lost family after losing her mother and two brothers.

“I can’t even speak, the pain is too much,” she said, overcome with emotion.

Every one of us here has a touching story of loss.

The trip was made by Amanuel Mekonnen in memory of his brother, sister-in-law, and niece who were lost in the accident.

Students and Italians who helped in rescue efforts attended the tearful memorial.