Migrants brought to Crotone after
facing rain and 6 m high waves
The Italian Coast Guard rescued 130 migrants from a small
fishing boat caught in a violent storm 110 miles south of
Crotone, in Calabria. The vessel had departed from Turkey on
January 30, and the rescue operation was complicated by extreme
weather conditions.
Distress call and high-seas rescue
The rescue mission was launched after the boat sent out a
distress call via satellite phone. When intercepted, the boat
was struggling in Force 5 sea conditions, with 45-knot winds and
six-meter waves.
Two Coast Guard patrol boats, CP 303 from Roccella Jonica and CP
321 from Crotone, carried out the operation. Despite immense
difficulty, all 130 migrants were safely transferred onto a
patrol boat, which took seven hours to reach Crotone's port
amidst the storm.
Passengers were mostly Afghans and Iranians
Among the rescued migrants were 27 women and 30 minors,
including six unaccompanied children. Most of the passengers
were Afghans and Iranians, along with nine Iraqis and six
Pakistanis.
Upon arrival, emergency services coordinated by the Prefecture
of Crotone provided immediate assistance. Medical personnel from
the Provincial Health Authority ordered hospitalization for a
pregnant woman and a disabled man. Many of the migrants were
suffering from hypothermia.
Assistance was provided by the Italian Red Cross, Misericordia,
and Regional Civil Protection teams. Following medical checks
and immigration processing, the migrants were transferred to the
Isola Capo Rizzuto reception center.
(The Italian Coast Guard during a migrant rescue operation.
Photo: ANSA/GUARDIA COSTIERA)_
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