6 migrants drown while swimming to Italy's shores From Livia Borghese, for CNN August 10, 2013 -- Updated 0928 GMT (1728 HKT) In all, 20 people jump into the water off the coast of Sicily The boat was carrying people from areas of unrest in the Middle East (CNN) -- Six migrants drowned Saturday in the Mediterranean Sea while trying to swim to shore in Italy, police said. In all, 20 people had jumped into the water off the coast of Sicily from a boat carrying 98 migrants, spokesman Giovanni Mazziano said. He believes that those who drowned did not know how to swim. The boat was carrying people from areas of unrest in the Middle East, among them Palestinians, Syrians and Egyptians.