Italian coast guard rescues 130 migrants in stormy seas
Baku, February 4, AZERTAC
Migrants brought to Crotone after facing rain and 6 m high waves The Italian Coast Guard rescued 130 migrants from a small fishing boat caught in a violent storm 110 miles south of Crotone, in Calabria.
According to ANSA, the vessel had departed from Türkiye on January 30, and the rescue operation was complicated by extreme weather conditions.
The rescue mission was launched after the boat sent out a distress call via satellite phone. When intercepted, the boat was struggling in Force 5 sea conditions, with 45-knot winds and six-meter waves. Two Coast Guard patrol boats, CP 303 from Roccella Jonica and CP 321 from Crotone, carried out the operation. Despite immense difficulty, all 130 migrants were safely transferred onto a patrol boat, which took seven hours to reach Crotone's port amidst the storm. Passengers were mostly Afghans and Iranians Among the rescued migrants were 27 women and 30 minors, including six unaccompanied children. Most of the passengers were Afghans and Iranians, along with nine Iraqis and six Pakistanis. Upon arrival, emergency services coordinated by the Prefecture of Crotone provided immediate assistance. Medical personnel from the Provincial Health Authority ordered hospitalization for a pregnant woman and a disabled man. Many of the migrants were suffering from hypothermia. Assistance was provided by the Italian Red Cross, Misericordia, and Regional Civil Protection teams. Following medical checks and immigration processing, the migrants were transferred to the Isola Capo Rizzuto reception center. (The Italian Coast Guard during a migrant rescue operation.
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