Pregnant woman, man die after rescue of 19 migrants

A pregnant woman and a man died on their way to St Luke's Hospital yesterday moments after being rescued from the sea when a boat packed with illegal immigrants capsized.

Another four are reported missing. Throughout the day, two Armed Forces of Malta rescue helicopters scoured the area eight nautical miles east off Delimara in the hope of recovering them.

The army's search did, however, yield three badly decomposed corpses, probably those of illegal immigrants from another unfortunate trip. Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera ordered an inquiry and autopsies are being carried out.

Yesterday's ill-fated events started to unfold at about 8.15 a.m. when the army spotted a boat with about 23 immigrants aboard, said to have probably escaped from Sudan. Sources said an argument seemed to be taking place before the boat capsized and an AFM patrol craft, which was monitoring the boat, immediately intervened.

Three army boats were dispatched to the area and the army managed to rescue 19 of the immigrants.

The police said one man was being kept in hospital for further treatment. The last two who were rescued succumbed despite being immediately evacuated to hospital.

Another boat of 25 illegal immigrants - 22 from Somalia (19 men and three women) and three others from Eritrea - entered Zurrieq at about 8 a.m.

The AFM said the Maltese and Italian authorities were monitoring reports of numerous boats seen far out at sea.

Last night, 34 illegal immigrants from Eritrea were brought ashore after the boat they were on was intercepted by the army.

Mr Abela said that while the 10-day operation organised by Frontex, the European border control agency, earlier this month had temporarily stemmed the problem, the influx of immigrants had started again.

"The weather is perfect for those wishing to risk crossing into Europe by boat," he added.

The unusually fine weather has encouraged many illegal crossings and in the past days. Italy and Spain have had their hands full dealing with hundreds of Africans seeking a gateway to Europe.

EU leaders who met in Finland last week have agreed that illegal migration from Africa is a problem concerning the whole of Europe.

They argued that to tackle it successfully, Africa had to be assisted in eradicating the basic reasons for migration and control of the bloc's external borders had to be improved.