After several days adrift on an oil platform without food or water, 32 migrants have been rescued by the NGO Sea Watch. The condition of the stranded individuals was critical, and one life was lost during their ordeal. Despite the urgent situation, no European nation intervened to assist prior to the rescue.
32 Migrants Rescued from Oil Platform After Days of Stranding
32 Migrants Rescued from Oil Platform After Days of Stranding
A dramatic rescue operation sees 32 migrants survive a harrowing ordeal on a stranded oil platform off Tunisia, highlighting ongoing Mediterranean maritime crises.
Thirty-two migrants who were stranded on a British Gas-managed oil platform in the Mediterranean for several days have been rescued by the NGO ship Aurora. The group was found in dire conditions off the coast of Tunisia, suffering from hunger and exposure. One individual tragically died during their time on the platform, as reported by Mediterranea, a migrant rescue charity.
The rescue occurred on Tuesday afternoon when Sea Watch successfully brought all 32 people aboard the Aurora. However, the vessel's destination remains uncertain since no nearby country has designated a port of safety for them, according to Sea Watch. The NGO expressed concern over the lack of European intervention despite the emergency conditions in international waters, just at the borders of the Tunisian and Maltese search and rescue zones.
The initial distress signal was raised after the migrants managed to contact Alarm Phone, an emergency hotline dedicated to assisting individuals in maritime peril. They reported being without food for several days and indicated worsening health due to the harsh conditions.
A video shared on social media by NGOs featured a young man, speaking in Tigrinya, detailing their desperate plight. He recounted how they departed from Libya five days prior and subsequently capsized. In the emotional plea, he described the chilling reality of their situation, stating, "Those who made it here and didn't die at sea are dying of hunger and exhaustion."
This rescue highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the notoriously perilous Central Mediterranean route, where 210,000 attempted crossings were recorded in 2023 alone. Disturbingly, more than 60,000 individuals were intercepted and returned to African shores, with nearly 2,000 tragically losing their lives in the process.
