VALLETTA, Nov 09, 2012 (AFP)
The Maltese military rescued 250 undocumented migrants believed to be Eritrean from a stricken boat Friday, officials said, after reports the vessel had been adrift for days.
Malta’s military, which is responsible for the Mediterranean island’s coast guard duties, said the rescue occurred some 140 nautical miles (160 miles, 260 kilometres) southeast of the island.
People on board the boat, which had set off from Libya, initially said they wanted to continue to Italy, but after rescuers monitored the craft it became clear it had no power.
“The vessel had suffered a catastrophic failure of its main engine and was unable to proceed any further,” the military said in a statement.
“The persons aboard the craft include a significant number of women and children and every precaution is being taken to ensure the safety of all persons aboard,” officials said.
The Italian navy and various non-governmental organisations had alerted the Maltese authorities, saying a boat was in distress.
Since the vessel was inside Malta’s search-and-rescue area, the Maltese military on Thursday sent two patrol boats and an aircraft to the scene. Rescuers reached the boat early Friday.
The migrants were being taken to Malta and due to reach the island late Friday.
Italian media on Thursday reported the boat had been adrift for four days in increasingly stormy conditions and that people on board contacted Eritrean immigrants living in Sweden and Malta to raise the alarm.
