1 Dead, 11 Saved After Boat Capsized In Malta’s SAR Zone

At least one person has died and 11 people have been rescued after a vessel capsized in Malta’s search and rescue zone, Times of Malta has reported.

A coordinated search and rescue operation was undertaken following the incident, which involved a vessel believed to have been carrying around 30 people.

The vessel reportedly overturned in Malta’s search and rescue area on Thursday night.

The situation was first reported when an Italian coast guard aircraft spotted the vessel approximately 50 miles southeast of Lampedusa. The aircraft immediately deployed a life raft to assist those on board.

Maltese aircraft, Italian coast guard vessels, Frontex aircraft, and a merchant ship were all dispatched to address the incident.

Italy’s Guardiacostiera coast guard organisation confirmed the ongoing response in a statement issued on Friday evening, with patrol vessels from both Malta and Italy also assisting.

Four survivors were initially rescued by the merchant ship and later transferred to an Italian coast guard vessel. The coast guard vessel continued to recover survivors from the water and retrieved one deceased person.

Survivors reported that the vessel had carried around 30 people in total.

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Source: Times of Malta