Shipwreck off Malta: 53 people rescued, 11 bodies recovered
'Every life lost is one too many': Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield
Updated Monday 12.35pm
A group of 53 people were rescued outside Malta's territorial waters in an operation that also recovered 11 bodies.
The operation, late on Sunday, was carried out by the Armed Forces of Malta, the Italian coastguard and a fishing vessel.
The AFM said on Monday that Malta's Vessel Traffic Services received a notification from a fishing vessel about a boat carrying migrants in distress, located approximately 50 nautical miles east of Malta.
The authority was informed that several individuals had fallen overboard while attempting to reach the assisting fishing vessel.
The Rescue Coordination Centre immediately instructed the fishing vessel, along with other vessels in the vicinity, to help out the migrants.
Concurrently, AFM deployed its assets to support the ongoing rescue operation. The Italian coastguard also assisted.
In all, a total of 53 people were rescued while 11 bodies were recovered. The migrants were provided with immediate medical attention. One person who required urgent medical care was flown to Malta.
The rescued people were brought ashore to Malta.
In a post on X.com (formerly Twitter), Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield said that every life lost is one too many.
"We need stronger European action against human smugglers and a coordinated Mediterranean approach to migration to prevent further tragedies," he said.
In a statement on Sunday, Italian authorities said the vessel had departed from Libya and was sailing with around 60 people onboard.
The Italian coastguard said the shipwreck took place approximately 45 nautical miles east-southeast of Malta.
Malta’s territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles from the coast, but its search and rescue zone extends considerably further, covering thousands of square kilometres.
At least 827 people have died so far this year attempting the deadly Central Mediterranean crossing, according to the UN's International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The Central Mediterranean route is the overseas crossing from North Africa to Italy and Malta. Over 1,330 people died on this route last year, IOM said.