A group of 29 irregular migrants, 24 men and five women, were saved from a sinking boat and brought to shore last night by members of the Armed Forces of Malta.

The afm said that while carrying out patrols in connection with the on-going Frontex Operation Nautilus-2 Phase 2, the AFM rescue vessel P-52 was informed that a migrants’ boat was in distress within its theatre of manoeuvre.

The Maritime Squadron Protector-class vessel was immediately dispatched to the area and found the boat taking in water, placing its occupants in peril.

The migrants were taken on board the Maltese patrol boat, and were expected to be landed at Maritime Squadron’s base in Haywharf, Floriana at around 2am last night.

The irregular migrants most probably hail from countries like Somalia, Ghana, and Liberia.