🆘~57 people in distress off Libya
Yesterday, Alarm Phone was alerted by a boat in distress after they had left from Libya. Our phone connection was bad. We were not able to gather all needed information and could not verify their position beyond doubt. Authorities are informed.
A relative got in touch with #AlarmPhone & provided the position of the boat in distress. According to the position received, it should be a few nautical miles from the Italian SAR zone. The people in distress told us that their engine is not working & water is entering the boat!
We are glad that at 12.39 CEST #MoonBird spotted the wooden boat that is in contact with #AlarmPhone, and was able to confirm its position South of #Lampedusa (35d07N, 012d27E) & that the boat is adrift. @guardiacostiera & @Armed_Forces_MT - the 57 people need rescue now!
We have lost contact to the ~57 people in distress. Their relatives keep calling #AlarmPhone, desperately asking for updates. Unfortunately we don’t know what happened to them, as Italian & Maltese authorities refuse to provide information. We hope they will be rescued!
This evening #MoonBird spotted the boat in distress again. This time the Italian coastguard was not there anymore. Why were these people left in distress, at risk of drowning? We don't have contact anymore. The Italian CG failed to rescue them, at least coordinate a rescue now!
They are still at sea!! We can't reach the ~57 people in distress but RCC Malta confirmed they are still at sea. The Italian Coastguard was on the scene but failed to rescue, confirming to us they are not coordinating a rescue in Malta SAR. Stop playing games with people's lives!
Besides the Italian CG, the cargo vessel KAREWOOD STAR was nearby, monitoring the boat in distress but not rescuing. We spoke to its company & they confirm that they have not taken the people on board. Once more a case of non-assistance by state and non-state actors in the Med!
According to info that @guardiacostiera provided to @nelloscavo, the boat in distress was rescued to #Lampedusa this afternoon after having been abandoned adrift for ~40h. We are glad that the ~57 people are now safe but this non-assistance & delay could have caused their death!
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