Migrants in a wooden boat south of the Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean, in August 2022. AP
Migrants in a wooden boat south of the Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean, in August 2022. AP
Migrants in a wooden boat south of the Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean, in August 2022. AP
Migrants in a wooden boat south of the Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean, in August 2022. AP

World

Europe

Dozens of migrants rescued from Italian desert island by helicopter

The 32 migrants, including a child, are from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Mali

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

April 03, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Italy's coastguard sent a helicopter to rescue 32 migrants, including a child, who had been stranded on a desert island in the central Mediterranean since the previous day.

The migrants were rescued from the islet of Lampione, part of the same archipelago as Lampedusa.

The rescue was impossible by sea because of "particularly adverse" weather conditions, the coastguard said.

The migrants were taken by helicopter to Lampedusa, the usual landing spot for people who set off from Tunisia and Libya.

The helicopter made several trips in winds of up to 50 knots, the coastguard said.

The rescued migrants are from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Mali, the Ansa news agency reported.

Earlier Monday, charity Alarm Phone, which picks up calls from migrant boats in distress, said a vessel with about 500 people aboard needed rescuing in international waters off Libya.

Italy migrant boat tragedy - in pictures

A view of the wreckage of a capsized boat that was washed ashore at a beach near Cutro, southern Italy. AP
A view of the wreckage of a capsized boat that was washed ashore at a beach near Cutro, southern Italy. AP
Italian Coastguard officers stand by as rescue crews search for people believed still missing from the migrant shipwreck. AP
Italian Coastguard officers stand by as rescue crews search for people believed still missing from the migrant shipwreck. AP
Pieces of the boat on the shore near Cutro. AP
Pieces of the boat on the shore near Cutro. AP
People say prayers in Crotone, where the coffins of some of the victims were laid out. EPA
People say prayers in Crotone, where the coffins of some of the victims were laid out. EPA
Personal belongings among the wreckage. AP
Personal belongings among the wreckage. AP
People lay tributes in Crotone. Reuters
People lay tributes in Crotone. Reuters
Divers of the Firefighters Corps patrol the beach. AFP
Divers of the Firefighters Corps patrol the beach. AFP
Rescue teams search for people believed to be still missing. AP
Rescue teams search for people believed to be still missing. AP

In February, a deadly shipwreck took place when Italian police boats failed to intercept a migrant boat in rough seas near the coast of the southern Calabria region.

More than 90 people died, and charities and opposition politicians have questioned why the coastguard, with vessels better equipped for high seas, did not intervene immediately.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

Star%20Wars%3A%20Episode%20I%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Phantom%20Menace
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Big%20Ape%20Productions%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20LucasArts%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PC%2C%20PlayStation%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: April 03, 2023, 9:18 PM`
ItalyMigrants