Another group of illegal migrants were rescued last night by an Italian trawler, the Gambero that was towing a tuna pen, the Armed Forces of Malta said yesterday.

This time the group consists of 26 including a pregnant woman and a toddler. The trawler is the same one that on Monday rescued another group of illegal migrants.

Given the bad sea conditions, another fishing vessel, the Antonio Genovese contacted the AFM who dispatched patrol boat P-52 which was on patrol about 45 miles south of the area of the incident. The AFM Operations Centre continued to co-ordinate the situation with MRCC Rome, utilising the radio-relay services of the Italian Navy warship Fenice which was on patrol 100 miles from the scene, close to Lampedusa. Thanks to their assistance, a French Navy warship, the Germinal, was requested to dispatch its helicopter to the Gambero's location.

The helicopter had a doctor and a nurse onboard to assist the migrants.

The Gambero had reported that one person was missing in the water and another was in bad shape from the amount of seawater swallowed.

At 10.48 p.m., the French navy helicopter was close to the Gambero, the AFM added.

The AFM said last night it will issue other bullitins as the case developes.