Hunt After Albanian Boat Disaster

Albania has called a day of national mourning today for more than 20 people who died at the weekend trying to cross the Adriatic to Italy.

The tragedy indicated the revival of the trade in illegal migrants, which the government in Tirana had claimed to have smashed, and suggested that the traffickers were working with the connivance of highly placed officials.

Albanian police said they had identified all but one of the 21 people known to have died after a high-speed semi-rigid inflatable got into difficulties off Vlora, Albania, on Friday night.

An interior ministry spokesman said an engine on the overloaded boat exploded, burning some occupants.

"The speedboat was filled with water and we all panicked," said a survivor, Avni Cakaj. "Those who had mobile phones started calling relatives and the police."

Most of the victims died of exposure during the 12 hours between the first distress calls and the arrival through high winds and wild seas of Italian navy rescue vessels.

Mr Cakaj said a close friend had died in his arms.

Italian ships and aircraft returned to search the area yesterday after Albanian families who feared their relatives were on the boat reported seven more people missing.

A second vessel was mentioned in calls to an Albanian television station, raising the alarm, but yesterday a police spokesman said: "We know ... there was only one speedboat."