AFM patrol boat to land rescued migrants in Lampedusa

A Maltese patrol boat is to land a group of 27 migrants on the Italian island of Lampedusa after rescuing them in rough seas this afternoon.

The boat was located by an Italian trawler 75NM sought of Malta at 9.50 a.m.. The trawler informed Rome which in turn informed the Maltese armed forces.

Patrol boat P52 intercepted the boat two hours later, but the migrants refused assistance and continued on their way.

The patrol boat remained in the area, and shortly before 9 p.m. rescued the migrants as the sea had become rough.

Since the boat was, by this time, nearer Lampedusa than Malta, permission was sought and granted for the migrants to be landed there. The patrol boat is expected to berth shortly after midnight.

The AFM in a statement said this was evidence of the success of Frontex operations.