President Sergio Mattarella on Thursday paid his respects to the victims of Sunday's migrant-boat shipwreck before their coffins laid out in a chapel of rest set up in a sports arena in the southern city of Crotone.
So far 67 asylum seekers are confirmed dead after a fishing boat that departed from Turkey and thought to be carrying up to 200 people broke up in rough seas off Italy's southern Calabria region in the early hours of Sunday.
Around 80 people survived, so the real death toll is feared to be much higher.
The head of State then went to Crotone's San Giovanni di Dio di Crotone hospital, where 15 survivors are being treated, including several children.
The president sent toys to the child survivors in the pediatric ward of the hospital.
He appeared particularly moved as he was applauded by staff and patients upon arrival.
Sources said the victims' relatives asked for help repatriating the bodies and support for the survivors.
Mattarella vowed to give that support, adding that the situation of Afghani refugees was a priority, the sources said.
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