An Italian Military Mission AB212 helicopter crewed by a joint Italian/AFM crew has successfully evacuated a pregnant migrant from the tanker Overseas Primar, ferrying her to Mater Dei Hospital.

The operation was one of the most dangerous of recent operations, since the woman had to be hoisted from the heaving tanker in darkness in a Force 8 wind.

The evacuation took place at about 10.30 p.m. off Anchor Bay where the tanker has been sheltering after rough seas prevented the transfer of 162 migrants it has on board.

AFM launches tried to take the migrants on board in the afternoon but the sea state was deemed to be too dangerous. They have stayed in Anchor Bay hoping for another attempt on Tuesday morning.

The migrants were rescued by the ship from a 10-metre boat 59 miles south of Malta on Sunday afternoon.

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