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13 illegal immigrants rescued by Italian fishing boat
By MaltaMedia News
May 26, 2008 - 6:21:44 PM
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In a statement on Monday, the Armed Forces of Malta said that they were informed that AFM the Italian fishing-vessel "Pegaso" has rescued some 13 male illegal migrants from their capsized boat, whilst in a position around 85 nautical miles South-East of Malta.
The AFM Operations' Centre at Luqa Barracks was informed of this at around 1510CET. The rescued migrants alleged that some five others had drowned when their boat capsized.
Whilst the "Pegaso" was instructed to steer a course closer to Malta, having done an immediate search for the five lost migrants, an AFM Air Wing Islander aircraft was also dispatched to the area to conduct an aerial search of the incident zone.
In the meantime, one of the rescued migrants onboard the "Pegaso" became unconscious due to the amount of seawater he had swallowed. An Italian Air Force AB212 rescue-helicopter from the Italian Military Mission in Malta was scrambled to the scene to evacuate the casualty to the Mater Dei Hospital.
The weather at present is blowing a strong force 5 to 6 East Southeast wind, with a rough southeast swell. It is expected to affect a mid-sea rendezvous later today closer to Maltese shores between the fishing-vessel "Pegaso" and an AFM Maritime Squadron patrolcraft, to bring the rescued migrants safely to land.
© Copyright 2008 by MaltaMedia.com
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Latest update:
May 27, 2008 - 9:30:35 PM CET
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