Malta’s sea rescue mission turns tragic with 5 migrant deaths

A rescue operation near Malta turns deadly with the capsizing of a migrant boat, resulting in 5 deaths and 8 injuries

Five migrants, including a woman, lost their lives when their boat capsized during a rescue operation by the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) off the coast of Malta.

The accident occurred approximately three and a half miles south of Malta and left eight individuals injured, two of whom ingested significant amounts of seawater and fuel.

The small boat, measuring 26 feet and equipped with two motors, was carrying around 34 people from Syria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Egypt. It had departed from Tripoli, Libya, three days before the tragic event. The migrants’ movement to one side of the vessel during the rescue operation caused the boat to overturn.

Deputy Commander of the AFM, Colonel Edric Zahra, detailed the timeline of the rescue operation, which began with an alert about a migrant vessel near Żonqor, leading to the deployment of an AFM airplane and a patrol boat.

The Civil Protection Department assisted in bringing the casualties to shore at Hay Wharf. Twenty-one survivors were rescued and taken to the Safi detention center for processing. As of the latest updates, the AFM continued their search for any additional survivors or bodies.

A magisterial inquiry, led by Victor Axiak, has been ordered, and police investigations are ongoing to uncover further details of this unfortunate event.

Source: Newsroom