The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) has reported that early on Sunday morning an AFM aircraft on a routine patrol sighted a rubber dinghy some 34 nautical miles South of Malta with approximately 112 persons on board. The Operations Centre in Luqa immediately diverted an Inshore Patrol vessel P21 and an offshore patrol vessel P52 to investigate further.

The migrant vessel was in distress and drifting. Subsequently the migrants were transferred onto the Offshore patrol vessel P52 and is currently making way and should arrive at Maritime Squadron Base at 10.30 pm.

Previously 8 migrants requiring urgent medical evacuation were transferred on the P21 and steamed towards Maritime Squadron Base were an awaiting ambulance took these migrants to hospital for further medical treatment.

The AFM Operations Centre has been actively coordinating this migrant dinghy for the past 13 hours. In total the group was made up of 112 persons, of whom 88 males, 20 females (1 pregnant) and 4 infants.

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