SEVASTOPOL, CRIMEA, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 28, 2020: A view of the Monument to the Sunken Ships during a storm on the Black Sea. Sergei Malgavko/TASS (Photo by Sergei MalgavkoTASS via Getty Images)
In a tragic incident in the Mediterranean, five migrants lost their lives on Friday, and eight others were hospitalized after the boat they were on capsized during a rescue operation conducted by Maltese armed forces. The boat, carrying migrants from Egypt, Eritrea, Ghana, and Syria, is believed to have set sail from Libya.
The Maltese Armed Forces (AFM) initiated the rescue operation after spotting the migrant vessel off Malta’s southern coast. Unfortunately, the boat capsized unexpectedly during the rescue operation, leading to the migrants being thrown into the water.
Colonel Edric Zahra, the army’s deputy commander, reported that the AFM patrol boat approached the migrant vessel, which was likely heavily loaded. The sudden movement or redistribution of weight could have caused the boat to lose balance, resulting in the tragic incident.
Rescue workers are actively searching the surrounding area for any additional possible victims, and the eight migrants who survived the incident are currently receiving medical care in a hospital. Colonel Zahra conveyed that the deceased individuals include four men and one woman.
This heartbreaking incident underscores the ongoing challenges and risks faced by migrants attempting perilous journeys across the Mediterranean in search of safety and better opportunities.
