A French-registered Tunisian fishing trawler that rescued 74 migrants south off Lampedusa was left stranded yesterday after Maltese and Italian authorities failed to agree where disembarkation should take place.

The standoff developed as another four boats carrying migrants from Libya were reported to be in international waters south of Lampedusa.

By the time of going to print neither the army nor the government had issued official statements about the incidents, which were also reported in Italian media.

Sources said the Armed Forces of Malta, in line with international law and established practice, directed the Tunisian trawler towards Lampedusa, the closest port of call.

Italian authorities declared the island to be unsafe but the sources said Tunisian authorities were also involved in the talks and a positive resolution to the impasse was expected.

The good weather seems to have prompted the latest crossings by large dinghies that are unsuitable for open water. They are the first significant bulk crossings in more than a year.

Sources said the migrants on the trawler were not in distress and the AFM was focusing on developments related to the other four boats that may be in distress. The army dispatched its specialist aircraft and a patrol boat to the area to provide assistance.

The Italian coastguard in the early hours of yesterday rescued around 50 migrants on board a dinghy that was also carrying five corpses. They were taken to Lampedusa.

News agency AFP reported the Italian coastguard saying there was a health emergency aboard and some of the migrants were in a serious condition. It is believed there were also two pregnant women on board the dinghy.

On Friday a boat arrived on Lampedusa with 54 migrants – including four children – on board.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com