Tunisians rescue migrants in Maltese waters

The AFM Rescue Coordination Centre yesterday coordinated a search and rescue mission for illegal immigrants in distress, 115 nautical miles south west of Malta.

The AFM said in a statement that the Tunisian Rescue Coordination Centre informed it at 11.30 a.m. that it had rescued 12 illegal immigrants and recovered a dead body from a capsized boat in the area, which falls within Malta's search and rescue region. The Tunisian centre also said that other immigrants were still missing. A Tunisian Coast Guard boat took the illegal immigrants to Tunis for further medical assistance and investigations.

The AFM said Tunisian maritime and Italian air assets carried out searches in the area for any possible survivors.

It also informed all vessels navigating in the area to keep a sharp lookout for any possible survivors and also for the capsized boat which may be hazardous to navigation.