Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 9th of June 2021

Case name: 2021_06_09-CM456

Situation: 116 people, among them 95men, 12 women and 9 minors, started on 5am CEST at 9th of June from Al Khoms and where intercepted by the so-called Libyan Coastguard

Status of WTM Investigation: concluded

Place of Incident: Central Mediterranean Sea

Summary of the Case:

On the 9th of June 2021 at 15h CEST the Alarm Phone received information about a boat in distress. The grey rubber boat with 116 travellers onboard, among them 95 men, 12 women and 9 minors was sighted 30 nm off Al Khoms. Accordingly to the caller the boat started at 5am on that day from Al Khoms. All attempts to reach the satellite phone failed. The Alarm Phone alerted the authorities of Italy, Malta and Libya as well as the NGO vessel Geo Barents at 18:05h CEST. The whole evening and night there were no news. On the 10th of June at 04:44h CEST the Alarm Phone received a GPS position from a relative and at 6:55h CEST a connection to the travellers could be established. They were still on sea. All information were shared with the relevant actors, including the air craft Colibri 2 from the NGO Pilote Volontaires, at 09:34h CEST via email. The Alarm Phone called the so-called Libyan Coastguard at 17h CEST so ask for recent rescues, but no clear information could be obtained. Later that day the Alarm Phone received the confirmation that the boat has been intercepted by the so-called Libyan Coastguard.