at least 30 immigrants 17 more may be rescued while remaining missingAfter a merchant ship capsized his boat during the rescue operation, he informed the Italian Coast Guard, emphasizing that the boat was in Libya’s rescue zone.
Search for the missing carried out with the aid of merchant ships and two Frontex aircraft, The European border control agency added the source in a note.
The Alarm Phone network, made up of activists receiving calls from endangered barges in the central Mediterranean, condemned the attacks. shipwreck He accused the Italian authorities of failing to intervene despite reporting their presence. It’s already Saturday night.
According to the reorganization of the Italian Coast Guard, the boat was in a SAR area (search and rescue, in its English acronym) but stressing that it “recorded the inaction of other National Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centers involved in the area”, referring to Libya and Malta.
They announced that the merchant ship “Basilis L” reported that the ship was drifting in sight and was having difficulty rescuing them due to the adverse weather conditions in the area, and that the Libyan officials responsible for search and rescue were dismissed. Due to the lack of naval resources in that area, they requested support from the Rome National Maritime Rescue Coordination Center at the request of the Libyan authorities, as required by international maritime salvage conventions. sent an emergency message via satellite to all passing ships.
This new shipwreck occurred after the tragedy off the coast of Cutro in Calabria (southern Italy). At least 79 immigrants died An investigation was launched to clarify the possible responsibilities of the Coast Guard Command. Although Italian Frontex pointed to the presence of a fishing boat, it did not intervene.
Mediterranean NGO Saving Humans said: “A few days after the Cutro shipwreck, we are facing a disaster. New case of dramatic helplessness and delay in rescuing people in distress in MAr” and added; “Everything possible must be done immediately to save the missing and the survivors.”
The sinking ship was identified off the coast of Libya, and Alarm Phone explained it.The Italian authorities gave instructions to the merchant ships in the region, but limited themselves to 24-hour observation, As shown in a video shot by the “Seabird2” aircraft of the NGO Sea Watch.
The video shows that the ship is in great difficulty. strong waves and merchant ships trying to protect it from the waves but unable to interfere.
“I am receiving news of a new shipwreck off the coast of Libya where more people may die. It seems that this ship has sought help and has been told to contact the Libyan coast guard. It’s a shame for Italy and Europe, we can’t continue to see the Mediterranean reduced to one big open-air cemetery.. That’s why I ask you to take a moment of silence,” he said.
Nearly 4,000 migrants have arrived on the Italian coast in the last five days, and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said:“The situation is alarming, Europe must understand this,” he said in a radio interview.
Since the beginning of 2023, 17,592 migrants have arrived on the Italian coast, more than triple (5,976) compared to the same period last year.