(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 17 - A survivor of the February 26 migrant boat shipwreck off Steccato di Cutro in Italy's southern Calabria region on Friday told a preliminary investigations judge he "knew Italy protects", sources have said.
    The survivor was giving evidence at a pretrial hearing at the Catanzaro court for minors in relation to the case of a 17-year-old boy suspected of being one of the smugglers.
    The survivor reportedly told the judge the smugglers had told him the refugees and migrants on board the boat, which had sailed from Turkey, would be rescued once they arrived in Italian waters.
    However, when he reached shore he saw only two police officers and a fisherman, he was reported to have said.
    He also reportedly told the judge he travelled below deck and had not been aware of the sea conditions.
    86 refugees and migrants are known to have died in the shipwreck, which occurred after a fishing boat thought to be carrying around 180 people mainly from Afghanistan, Syria and Iran ran aground and broke up in shallow water near the coast.
    80 people survived the tragedy, while around 20 people are still thought to be missing, feared dead. (ANSA).