Four migrants dead as two groups are rescued
Two migrants drowned and another two were found dead aboard a dinghy whose occupants were rescued by a ship about 70 nautical miles south of Malta yesterday afternoon.
The dinghy had approached the merchant vessel MV Victoria 6 with about 50 migrants on board just after lunchtime. They were in a very poor state of health and requiring urgent medical attention, the Armed Forces of Malta said.
The ship was conducting maintenance at the time.
In what was described as a hazardous manoeuvre, the crew of the Victoria 6 transferred the migrants onto the ship.
But as the operation was underway, two of them fell into the sea and could not be recovered, the AFM said.
An AFM plane, a Hawker Beechcraft King Air B200 that was already in the area, was diverted to the spot and carried out an extensive search but there was no trace of the missing migrants.
Another two individuals were reported to be dead on board the dinghy and were left there as it was towed towards Malta – the nearest safe port – by the Victoria 6 late last night.
At one point the AFM was preparing to send a helicopter to the merchant ship to assess the migrants and if necessary carry out a medical evacuation of the most severe cases.
However, this was not deemed necessary and an AFM patrol boat went out to meet it about 15 miles off shore.
It took the migrants aboard and was expected to be back in harbour some time after midnight.
Meanwhile, late yesterday, a second patrol boat was involved in an operation to rescue migrants from another dinghy.
It was not known how many were aboard but unofficial sources said it was a bigger boatload than the first.
The AFM vessel was expected back in the early hours of this morning. The nationalities of the latest arrivals were still unknown last night.
There has been an increase in the number of migrants reaching Malta this year, with the figure reaching more than 1,200, including the latest arrivals. The majority claim asylum.
The still unsettled situation in Libya could prompt many more sub-Saharan migrants in that country to attempt the often dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean towards Europe.
Last year the island received 1,890 asylum applications, which was a substantial rise over 2010, when just two boats turned up on Malta’s shores.
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Malicia Dabrowicz
Aug 16th 2012, 12:24
Fran and Louise, 6 people are DEAD. Can`t we have one day without folks like you posting ad nauseum the same stuff? The fact that you two (and many more on this website) are without consciense, doesnt mean we all are.
carlos ellul
Aug 16th 2012, 17:37
Immigrants leave from Libya and if they are lucky they come to Malta were we have to maintain them etc. What is the EU doing to curb illegal immigration which is the main reason of such tragedy? Nothing. Why keep on insisting on forcing immigrants to remain in tiny Malta when they know that we can't integrate them efficiently? You now the answer.
Its not us who are letting immigrants down but the big nations up north. We're only defending our future.
John Azzopoardi
Aug 16th 2012, 12:18
Save the migrants as is our duty, but return them back to Libya. Libya today is a free country. Europe does not want them as they do not want participate in burden sharing. What is our prime minister and leader of opposition waiting for. Not a word at all this year from either of them on this whole illegal migration issue. Who is paying whom. And how about going after human traffikers. This is pure human trafficking and it goes against EU directives 2 and 3. Look at Autralia. They are enacting laws to place all illegal migrants in offshore detention centers. Maybe we can outsource some detention centers in Spain or Greece as they need the money.
Tony Camilleri
Aug 16th 2012, 13:21
Agree with you. Gonzi has already stated his position. If Dr Muscat want's my and my families votes he must state categorically that he shall expel all illegal immigrants within a very short time, not longer than 3 months and not allow one illegal immigrant from whatever country to come or remain in Malta.
Tony Camilleri
Aug 16th 2012, 12:05
Arrest the crew and impound the vessel in favour of the government because everything is fishy.
All the Somalis should be sent back to Somalia as they are n no danger, so much so that Somalis are going back to Somalia from the UK.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9744000/9744757.stm
Somalis returning to Mogadishu from the UK
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19252806
Somalia prepares for presidential elections
Louise Vella
Aug 16th 2012, 11:23
The facts of the case as reported in the press call for a police investigation of the captain and crew of MV Victoria 6. The police should not rely on mere hearsay but should establish the true facts.
Louise Vella
Aug 16th 2012, 11:23
So 160 illegal immigrants in one day. The British minister who was recently in Malta told us bluntly not to expect any burden sharing because that would amount to a call factor to other potential illegal immigrants. That was bad news for Malta. But at least it showed that the minister was protecting British national interests. On the other hand Dr Gonzi has been trumpeting around that he will always send the AFM to pick up illegal immigrants on dinghies. That is more than a call factor. This is an invitation to an endless number of illegal immigrants to jump on a boat and while in the middle of the sea call for help. Is Dr Gonzi defending Malta’s national interests?
Louise Vella
Aug 16th 2012, 11:23
Dr Gonzi said his policy is twofold. First he gives all illegal immigrants in a dinghy a guarantee that they will be brought to Malta. Second he would like the EU to take them off our back as a sign of burden sharing. The EU does not want to share the burden. So we are left with the first part of the policy. Dr Gonzi is guaranteeing all illegal immigrants that if they leave Libya by boat they will be brought to Malta. No questions asked. No limits to the numbers. So Dr Gonzi is inviting an unlimited number of illegal immigrants to come to Mlata and if necessary they will have the first claim to our hospital services. Thank you Dr Gonzi.
Fran Abela
Aug 16th 2012, 10:44
Is it possible in this day and age that one cannot see vessels leaving Libya or wherever, and then dumping the illegal immigrants on dinghies for nearby countries, i.e. Italy and Malta, to pick them up ? As far as I know we have planes that patrol Malta's territorial waters. There is a hoarding trade of human traffickers and as usual we do not tackle the problem from the roots.
Please choose the reason of your report below: