AFM pick up 56 migrants

A total of 56 illegal immigrants were brought ashore by the Armed Forces of Malta last night.

A first group of 28 immigrants were found drifting on a boat without fuel about 60 nautical miles off Malta after a call for help.

A patrol boat located the boat, with 26 males and two females aboard, at around midday. The immigrants said they were Sudanese.

In a second operation, the Rome rescue centre informed the AFM that a man had been in contact saying he was on board a boat that was drifting and had run out of fuel. The man said there were 28 persons on board but was unable to state his location.

Based on the scant information available, the AFM started a search with an Islander aircraft.

The aircraft located the disabled vessel at 3.30 p.m. and the patrol boat that was returning to Malta with the first group was diverted to pick up the second.

This group consisted of 24 males and four females who claimed to be Eritreans.

The patrol boat landed at Haywharf and the immigrants were handed over to the police.