Migrants’ bodies are unloaded last week. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

A magistrate investigating the death of 29 people on a migrant boat last week has released the bodies for burial after consultation with Italian judicial authorities.

The migrants drowned in the lower deck of a boat believed to have been carrying more than 700 people, who were fleeing Libya.

In a rescue operation coordinated by the Armed Forces of Malta, hundreds of survivors were taken to Italy on board a Danish merchant ship while the sinking boat with dead bodies aboard was towed to Malta.

The Home Affairs Ministry and the Health Parliamentary Secretariat said the magistrate yesterday released 21 bodies after autopsies, toxicological and DNA tests were concluded. The rest of the bodies will be released when all tests are completed.

The ministry explained that the process took its time because most of the bodies were in an “advanced state of decomposition”.

“The bodies were released after consultation with Italian judicial authorities since Malta and Italy are collaborating on the investigation,” the ministry said. Italian judicial authorities have asked to see the boat and autopsy conclusions, a spokeswoman for the ministry said, adding logistical arrangements were being made for their visit to Malta.

Most were in an advanced state of decomposition

The migrants are believed to have drowned when the boat they were on started taking in water and a stampede ensued as the survivors were being transferred on to the Danish freighter.

Survivors told Italian investigators around 60 people had been stabbed by traffickers indiscriminately and their bodies thrown into the sea. Four bodies had been recovered by an army patrol boat but more were found when water was pumped out of the sinking boat at the AFM base in Haywharf.

A prayer vigil was held yesterday at the multi faith room at Mater Dei Hospital by a Catholic priest and a representative of the Imam.

The ministry said 28 bodies will be buried at the Addolorata Cemetery while another will be buried at the Turkish Cemetery in Marsa.