There has been worldwide shock towards photographs published yesterday, showing sunbathers at a beach in Italy completely ignoring the bodies of two drowned girls beside them.
The photographs were taken on Saturday at a beach near Naples in Southern Italy – they show the bodies of two deceased young girls, covered by beach towels.
Sitting just metres away are sunbathers, enjoying the day at the beach.
It is reported that the bodies are of cousins, Violetta, 12 and Cristina, 13, who drowned when they went to the beach to beg and sell trinkets.
The photographer who took the photos told CNN the mood among sunbathers had been one of indifference.
"While the lifeless bodies of the girls were still on the sand, there were those who carried on sunbathing or having lunch just a few metres away," Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported.
He also said he believed the sunbathers were Roma gypsies, who are a disliked minority group in Italy.
Other photos show police carrying coffins past other sunbathers who also look completely unfazed.
Civil liberties campaigners, Italian newspapers and archbishops have spoken out about the incident.
The CNN reported the Archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Crecenzio Seppe said indifference should not be a feeling expressed by humans.
“To turn the other way or to mind your own business can sometimes be more devastating than the events that occur."
Photo: CNN