Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – June 16th 2021

Case name: 2021_06_16-CM480

Situation: 20 women, four children, 62 men drifting South of Lampedusa, rescued to Italy more than 32 hours after first alert

Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded

Place of Incident: Central Mediterranean

Summary of Case In the morning of June 16th Alarmphone was called by a group of four women, 20 children and 62 men drifting in Maltese SAR. At the time of the distress call the people related their engine had stopped and they were unable to move. We informed authorities at 04.21 CEST. Throughout the morning people on the boat relate up to date GPS to us which we forward to authorities. Almost 10hours later, people on the boat informed us they were still in the same critical situation. At 13.59 CEST media reports relate that the Nadir of ResQship had located the group of 86 travellers and was providing first care. At 14.59 CEST we pointed out the merchant vessel Lady Nuray to authorities, which was in the vicinity of the distress case. According to the media, the Armed Forces of Malta were still refusing to take responsibility for coordinating the rescue operation and assigning a port of safety at 22.27 CEST. Likewise, media reports related the arrival of the so-called Lybian coast guard, instructing the Nadir to assist in an illegal pull-back to Lybia, the same evening. We called the boat throughout the night but were unable to re-establish contact. At 12.00 CEST the following day, June 17th, media reports related the Italian Coast Guard had sent a ship which had taken the 86 travellers to Italy.

Tweets:

June 16th

11.44 CEST

14.12

17.48 CEST

Tweets by @resqship_int

June 16th

13.59 CEST

22.27 CEST

Press release:

June 17th

12.00 CEST