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| TOP NEWS | Sunday, 12 August 2007 AFM calls off search for missing migrants The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) have stopped searching for the boat with 27 migrants on board which capsized on Friday 60 nautical miles to the south of Malta, Brigadier Carm Vassallo told MaltaToday.
“We searched for the missing migrants on Friday but yesterday we deployed our vessels on other assignments,” he said when asked whether the search for the missing migrants had continued yesterday. Thirteen were rescued by Spanish cruise liner Jules Verne which was on its way to Malta, while a woman was airlifted to St Luke’s Hospital after suffering from hypothermia. Around 10 migrants were still missing at sea yesterday and are now feared dead. Meanwhile, the migrant boat carrying over 200 persons, which was spotted by the AFM on Friday on its way to Italy, reached Lampedusa yesterday night at a speed of about 5 knots. The immigrants found Italian coastguard vessels waiting for them upon reaching Italian waters to escort them towards the Italian island. Their immigrants were reported to be in good medical condition and told the AFM they required no assistance. Italian news agencies have reported that the migrants are of Eritrean nationality and that there were also women and children on board the vessel. In spite of the bad weather conditions in the area, with wind speeds up to 52 knots and Force 4 seas, the boat, which is actually a 20-metre fishing boat, has managed to steam ahead with no difficulties.
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NEWS | Sunday, 12 August 2007 PN support in Gozo in free-fall Bortex fires Maltese, hires Chinese Forget the bedpans, let’s talk travel plans… ‘Our pharmacy licences are now safe and more valuable than ever’ AFM calls off search for missing migrants Musicians give hope to immigrants Mangion stands by Pender Place sale Mangion stands by Pender Place sale European gays appoint Maltese activist as policy officer Ostreopsis not an alien species Rockers, relax – cult programme will be back MMA official bluffed with junior to corrupt him Mistake paves way for Marsa hazardous waste incinerator PBS schedule ‘turned into auction’ UTV fracas: Former director to sue priest for libel To Gozo, and beyond Rector wants a ‘Gozitan Lourdes’ in Ta’ Pinu The road to Smart City – over 600m of tarmac through arable land |