ESPS CANARIAS, together with others Operation SOPHIA’s assets rescues migrants in danger
More than 100 migrants were rescued today November 12th, by the Spanish Frigate Canarias operating within the EUNAVFOR MED task Force.
Early this morning the UK Linx MK8 helicopter, while patrolling the assigned area in front of the Libyan coast of Zuwarah, spotted the presence of a rubber boat filled with people, seriously risking to sink.
The operation, in which was involved also the French helicopter Panther belonging to the frigate Courbet, was coordinated from the Operation Sophia flagship, the Italian aircraft vessel Cavour being requested by the competent Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) .
Unfortunately one of the migrant was found already dead and the rescuers could only transfer the corpse on board the Spanish ship.
Furthermore, one woman claming to be pregnant at risk of miscarriage was urgently transferred by the ESPS Canarias’s helicopter to the nearest hospital in Lampedusa.
All the migrants were finally transferred on board the Médecins sans frontières ship “Dignity1” that continued towards the disembarking port.
EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia is contributing to the disruption of the human beings smuggling and trafficking business model aiming at preventing the further loss of life at sea. In 4 months, the Operation Sophia assets have been involved in 24 rescue operations saving more than 5400 lives.
