In the first rescue operation, 26 illegal immigrants were located three miles off Zurrieq and were taken ashore at Wied il-Buni, Birzebbuga. Five of the persons rescued were women. They were travelling on a small motor-powered boat.

On Wednesday evening, at about 8pm, local authorities were informed that a number of persons had been sighted on a 15-foot boat some eight miles off Zurrieq.

Two Maritime Squadron vessels, namely the P23 and the SAR launch M2, were dispatched to the scene to assess the situation. Patrol vessel P23 sighted the boat at 9pm and it was established that the boat had 26 persons on board, some of whom requested medical assistance.

It was therefore decided that the persons be conveyed to the nearest safe haven as per established norms. An operation to convey the immigrants safely to shore was initiated at 9.20pm.

The immigrants – 21 men and 5 women – were landed at Wied Buni, Birzebbuga and eventually taken in hand by Police Immigration Officials for the necessary investigations.

The immigrants, who are reported to be predominantly from Somalia and Sudan, are being kept at the AFM Safi Barracks and at Police detention centres.

Hardly had the AFM finished its assistance operation that another case involving illegal immigrants was reported. A Turkish registered ship reported to the Palace Tower signal station that an eight-metre grey rubber dinghy was sighted adrift with a number of persons on board.

The Protector Class patrol boat P 52 was tasked to proceed to the reported location, some 44 nautical miles southeast of Delimara. The ship remained on scene to assist the persons on board the dinghy until the AFM vessel arrived.

It was established in the early hours of yesterday, the dinghy had ran out of fuel and was stranded at sea prior to being sighted by the Turkish vessel Doganny. Upon identifying the patrol vessel as a Maltese patrol boat, the persons on board the dinghy stated that they were on their way to Italy but requested assistance.

The operation to transfer and embark the 30 men, 3 women and a baby on board the P52 ended at 3.15am. All illegal immigrants are reported to be in good health.

The 34 immigrants were handed over to the AFM by the Malta Immigration Officials, and are to be accommodated at the Safi Detention Centre that is now over full capacity, the AFM said.