AFM on way to pick up 36 migrants rescued in Maltese search and rescue zone
Kevin Schembri Orland
Friday, 20 September 2019, 09:45
Last update: about 6 years ago
A fishing boat throws water bottles to migrants on an overcrowded wooden boat in the Mediterranean Sea, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. The Ocean Viking, jointly operated by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders, rescued 36 people from the small wooden boat after being requested to do so by Maltese authorities. (AP Photo/Renata Brito)
The Armed Forces of Malta are on their way to meet NGO ship the Ocean Viking to collect 36 migrants who were rescued in the Maltese search and rescue zone, an AFM spokesperson confirmed with The Malta Independent.
International news reports read that the boat rescued the 36 people from an overcrowded wooden boat in the Mediterranean Sea based on a request from Maltese authorities, however the AFM denied this.
The AFM did confirm that the 36 were rescues in the Maltese rescue zone however.
The Norwegian-flagged Ocean Viking picked up another 182 migrants from unseaworthy boats earlier this week north of Libya. It now carries 218 passengers who were rescued at sea.
While the AFM is going to pick up the 36, it said it will not be collecting the other migrants on-board who were rescued in the Libyan search and rescue zone.
Additional reporting AP