AFM lose trace of drifting migrants

The fate of some 53 illegal migrants was unknown late last night after the army's rescue mission lost contact with their boat, 88 nautical miles south of Malta.

The people on the stranded boat, which was taking in water after its outboard engine stalled, had sent a distress call to an African, residing on the island at about 6 a.m. yesterday.

The Armed Forces of Malta's Rescue Coordination Centre was informed by the resident that he had received information that a boatload of migrants was adrift somewhere south of Malta.

The Operations Centre immediately made contact with the migrants to confirm the information and a long-range search aircraft was despatched to the area.

Shortly after arriving in the area, the aircraft's crew spotted the 10-metre boat. It was visually confirmed that there were about 53 persons on board, some of whom were wearing life jackets. The army could not confirm whether there were any women and children on board.

Photos taken during the morning's AFM flight showed the migrants huddled on their drifting boat, bailing water with a blue jerry can.

Due to the distances involved, and after more than two hours, the aircraft was recalled to base to refuel before proceeding again to the area in the afternoon.

The aircraft was again on site where the migrant boat was at around 4.15 p.m., and immediately began a search. Meanwhile, an army patrol left Haywharf under full steam.

The vessel also began a surface search pattern, but while visibility in the area improved, the sea got rougher.

After a four-hour search, the aircraft had to return to refuel.

The rescue boat continued the search throughout the night in the hope of re-establishing contact with the migrants' while the aircraft was expected to fly out at dawn today and rejoin the search.

Emergency contingency plans had been put in place at the police headquarters in Floriana, at St Luke's Hospital and at the Justice Ministry.

A 23-year old immigrant from Ivory Coast was the only survivor last weekend after his boat, according to the immigrant, sank in rough seas 75 nautical miles south of Malta.

The immigrant was rescued by a Maltese trawler after 28 other Africans on board the same boat perished.

Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg has instructed the police to release the Ivorian immigrant from detention.

Dr Borg told The Times the immigrant would be released from the Safi detention centre on grounds of vulnerability. A spokesman from the Social Solidarity Ministry said he would be let out following medical clearance.