Pare che a un certo punto ieri sera, per attirare l'attenzione abbiano bruciato uno straccio. A vederli è stato un peschereccio siciliano, che alle 21:15 ha lanciato l'sos. A bordo erano in 116 passeggeri. Somali e ciadiani, partiti dalla Libia e finiti alla deriva senza carburante a 45 miglia da Malta. La Valletta ha mandato le sue motovedette in soccorso dopo aver ricevuto dall'Italia la comunicazione che Roma non sarebbe intervenuta perché fuori dalle sue acque di competenza. Sei dei passeggeri sono stati ricoverati d'urgenza all'ospedale Mater Dei di Malta. Una ragazza invece non ce l'ha fatta. Aveva 29 anni, l'hanno ritrovata senza vita a bordo. Non era l'unica ragazza. A bordo c'erano 18 donne, un bimbo di tre anni e tre neonati. Tutti i passeggeri, compresi i 98 uomini, erano in brutte condizioni di disidratazione. Il che fa pensare che fossero in mare da una settimana. E allora viene da chiedersi ancora una volta come sia stato possibile che nessun radar li abbia visti prima. Nemmeno quelli delle navi militari della Nato, che ho personalmente incrociato in quel tratto più volte quando due settimane fa sono andato in Libia proprio da un peschereccio partito da Malta, con un carico di aiuti per la città di Misratah. Di seguito i dettagli della notizia sulla stampa maltese.
Malta: 116 migrants rescued by the AFM
Times of Malta
VALLETTA, April 12, 2011 - A group of 116 immigrants was rescued by two Armed Forces of Malta patrol vessels early this morning. They were picked up from a drifting boat 45 nautical miles south-west of Malta and and 47 NM east of Lampedusa.
The Italian authorities informed Malta rescue centre that they would not be sending any of their assets to assist in the situation, since the migrants' boat was located closer to Malta, than to Lampedusa, the AFM said.
The 50-foot wooden boat, laden with Chadian and Somali migrants, had stopped without fuel and with an engine fault. A dead woman was also on board. The body has now been taken to the morgue.
Another six immigrants have been taken to Mater Dei since they required immediate hospital treatment and the others looked extremely week.
Sources said it was very likely that these immigrants have spent more than a week at sea.
The boat's presence was reported at around 9.15 p.m. yesterday by an Italian fishing-boat. The migrants were burning clothes to attract attention.
Patrol boats P-24 and P-51 patrol vessels were diverted to the location to render assistance.
The migrants consisted of 94 men, 18 women, a three-year-old boy and three babies.
A dead 29-year old woman was also on board.
More than 1,000 migrants were rescued and brought to Malta over the past two weeks.
Malta: 116 migrants rescued by the AFM
Times of Malta
VALLETTA, April 12, 2011 - A group of 116 immigrants was rescued by two Armed Forces of Malta patrol vessels early this morning. They were picked up from a drifting boat 45 nautical miles south-west of Malta and and 47 NM east of Lampedusa.
The Italian authorities informed Malta rescue centre that they would not be sending any of their assets to assist in the situation, since the migrants' boat was located closer to Malta, than to Lampedusa, the AFM said.
The 50-foot wooden boat, laden with Chadian and Somali migrants, had stopped without fuel and with an engine fault. A dead woman was also on board. The body has now been taken to the morgue.
Another six immigrants have been taken to Mater Dei since they required immediate hospital treatment and the others looked extremely week.
Sources said it was very likely that these immigrants have spent more than a week at sea.
The boat's presence was reported at around 9.15 p.m. yesterday by an Italian fishing-boat. The migrants were burning clothes to attract attention.
Patrol boats P-24 and P-51 patrol vessels were diverted to the location to render assistance.
The migrants consisted of 94 men, 18 women, a three-year-old boy and three babies.
A dead 29-year old woman was also on board.
More than 1,000 migrants were rescued and brought to Malta over the past two weeks.