A Portuguese patrol boat, from the Border Control Agency (Frontex) of the European Union, participated this morning in the rescue of 96 migrants who were on a sailboat in the Mediterranean, off the coast of Calabria, in Italy.
According to the Italian coast guard, the Portuguese vessel, which was not identified, cooperated with some merchant ships in protecting the small sailboat from the wind while the Italian authorities operated the rescue.
The relief operations took place 100 miles (about 160 kilometers) from the town of Roccella Ionica, in the extreme south of Italy, reports the coastguard in a statement.
The rescue came under strong swell, in such a way that the rescue was not possible at first, even with the help of a large vessel that was positioned alongside the ship to cut the swell.
The Italian coastguard had to board the boat to reassure the migrants crammed aboard and try to remain calm.
All migrants were rescued, even a woman who fell into the water. All those rescued were taken to the port of Roccella, which in recent days has received numerous disembarkations.
On 25 February, close to this area, in the town of Cutro, Calabria, 94 migrants died as a result of the sinking of the boat on which they were traveling from Turkey.
According to data from the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the flow of migrants crossing the Mediterranean continues to increase and, until Friday, 55.750 had landed in Italy, more than double the number registered in the same period of 2020 (23.565).
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