Around 29 migrants are facing 1.5m high waves in a boat in distress off the coast of Malta, AlarmPhone said
29 people in distress off Malta’s coast, AlarmPhone reports
The NGO said on Twitter it had lost contact to the vessel three hours earlier, at around 12.00 noon.
🆘 Boat in distress in the central Med!
— Alarm Phone (@alarm_phone) April 20, 2023
Alarm Phone was alerted to 29 people in distress. We've alerted authorities. We lost contact to the boat 3 hours ago. Weather conditions are very tough (1.5m waves, 20kts winds) – a rescue operation must be launched without delay! pic.twitter.com/iKflMgXeaR
AlarmPhone called for an immediate rescue operation, pointing at the “very tough” weather conditions in the area.
Earlier on Thursday, Malta’s Meteorological Office had issued a yellow weather warning for gale force winds.
Update 21 April 20:00 | On Friday, SOS MEDITERRANEE reported that the 29 people had been evacuated by its vessel Ocean Viking during the night before.
The NGO said both a Maltese helicopter and an Italian patrol vessel were on the scene, “without either of the two assisting in the search nor supporting with coordination”.
“Shortly after the evacuation, Italian authorities assigned Bari as a Place of Safety for the 29 survivors on Ocean Viking, 770km away, imposing a 2-day navigation”, it said.
43 quietly rescued on Tuesday
Newsbook reported on Wednesday that a group of 43 asylum seekers had quietly been brought to Malta on Tuesday.
Claims that there were two deaths, as sources told Newsbook, have been denied by the Armed Forces of Malta.
The rescue operation on Tuesday followed another rescue of 60 migrants that had been brought to Malta on Monday evening.
Between New Year’s and last week, Malta rescued only one asylum seeker who was airlifted to the island for medical treatment.
