Sixty illegal immigrants entered Malta yesterday evening as another 12 were rescued out at sea and several others reported missing.

At 7.20 p.m., the Armed Forces of Malta were informed that a boat carrying 30 illegal immigrants had moored in the area known as Il-Hofriet at Marsascala. The AFM dispatched the Melita II to the area.

At around 7.30 p.m., the police were informed of another boat carrying 30 illegal immigrants, all male, which had made its way into Xrobb l-Ghagin, Delimara. Immigration police were investigating. Meanwhile, the AFM were yesterday evening informed by the authorities in Rome that an Italian fishing vessel 40 nautical miles off the coast of Delimara had rescued 12 illegal immigrants and reported several others missing.

The AFM dispatched a patrol boat to the area. It is understood that the AFM is to dispatch an Islander aircraft to help the search for the missing immigrants this morning.

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