Seventy-eight migrants are refusing to be brought to Malta, insisting with the Armed Forces of Malta that they want to go to Italy, the AFM said.

Last night the Armed Forces of Malta were called to assist a group of 83 migrants that were in distress and taking in water, to the east of Malta. A merchant vessel, ‘Tychy’, was directed by Malta’s Rescue and Coordination Centre based in Luqa, to the area to render initial assistance and soon after an AFM offshore patrol vessel P52 sailed on location.

Five migrants were subsequently transferred on board the Maltese patrol boat and disembarked at Hay Wharf base at 6.30am this morning while the remaining 78 migrants are refusing to be disembarked in Malta. The migrants are insisting to go to Italy. The migrants are all in good health and currently on board the merchant vessel.