70 rescued migrants disembark in Lampedusa

The government has denied any shortcomings on its part with regards to a rescue operation in the Mediterranean on Saturday.

Some 70 migrants were rescued from a boat in the early hours of Saturday morning and were disembarked in Lampedusa. The rescue operation was coordinated by the Maltese authorities.

In a statement, the government said that claims on the party of an Italian NGO and Italian news agency ANSA, that Malta had refused to do its part in the rescue were incorrect. ANSA claimed that the Maltese authorities had told their Italian counterparts that there were no boats available.

“RCC Malta took all necessary action in accordance with the practice and legal obligations,” read the statement.

“All entities including AFM assets and Italian assets were contacted by RCC Malta and a maritime broadcast was issued for all vessels in the vicinity.”

It said the NGO vessel ‘Mare Jonio’ whilst responding to the urgent message broadcast, did not intercept or conduct any rescue.

“Both RCC Malta and MRCC Rome were in continuous contact and coordination regarding this boat. The migrants’ boat was intercepted by the Italian Coast Guard off the coast of Lampedusa.”

In a statement released at 2am by the Italian coast guard said that the vessel was spotted in distress when it was 18 nautical miles off Lampedusa.