54 shipwrecked migrants rescued from oil platform in the Mediterranean, where one woman gave birth
The vessel Astral, operated by the Spain-based NGO Open Arms, rescued the 54 people overnight, the group said in a statement.
The migrants had been trapped on the oil platform for three days after their rubber boat shipwrecked following their departure from Libya on Tuesday, Open Arms said.
On Friday, one of the migrants gave birth to a boy, while another woman had given birth days before. Two other young children were among the group, Open Arms said.
The group released images on social media, showing rescuers helping transfer the migrants from the oil platform to the Astral.
Over 50 migrants were headed to the Italian island of Lampedusa after a charity ship rescued them from an abandoned oil platform in the Mediterranean, where one woman gave birth.
Open Arms
Later Sunday, the charity said that, following the rescue of those on the oil platform, the Astral came upon another 109 people, including four people in the water.
That group, which included 10 children, had also departed from Libya, it said.
Open Arms said they provided life jackets to the migrants before they were rescued by another charity ship, the Louise Michel, which is sponsored by street artist Banksy.
The Louise Michel, a former French navy vessel, was transporting the migrants from Lampedusa to a safe port in Sicily, Open Arms said.
The Italian island has been the sight of migrant tragedies before. In December, more than 40 migrants were feared dead off Lampedusa after a lone 11-year-old survivor said the boat she was on capsized, according to the rescue group Compass Collective.
It is not unusual for migrants crossing the Mediterranean on leaky and overcrowded boats to seek refuge on offshore oil platforms.
As of June 1, some 23,000 migrants had reached Italy by sea this year, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Earlier this year, Spanish coastguards rescued a baby that was born on an inflatable vessel carrying migrants to the Canary Islands. The newborn was recovered safely along with their mother on Monday, the coastguard service said in a message on social media.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Teenagers rescued after getting stuck on rock as water rose around them
Dramatic scenes unfolded in Porthcawl as two teenagers stranded on a rock had to be rescued as a rising tide quickly surrounded them with water. It comes as the coastguard had to rescue a 61-year-old after he broke his ankle falling on the rocks near Barry Island. The RNLI has now issued a beach safety reminder, urging people to take proper precautions near the coast. The rescue took place around 6.45pm on Sunday, July 27 after the Porthcawl RNLI were called on by HM Coastguard regarding a 999 call. The call reported that two teenagers had gotten stuck on a rocky outcrop with waves washing over the rocks near Newton Point, Porthcawl. Earlier that month, Porthcawl RNLI had to rescue paddleboarders on at least three different calls as they struggled with strong tidal currents. READ MORE: Four sisters' plan to build four houses next to each other labelled 'bonkers' READ MORE: 'We live in a caravan, work two days a week and spend just £330 a month' A video of the rescue released by the Porthcawl RNLI shows the teenagers stranding on a small rock, completely surrounded by water as rescuers approach them on a lifeboat. Stay informed on Bridgend news by signing up to our newsletter here To rescue the teenagers stuck at Newton Point, the charity had to launch its D class lifeboat, Hugo Missen along with three volunteer crew onboard. Chris Page, Porthcawl Lifeboat Press Officer and Crew Member said: "Time was really of the essence with this shout, as there was still over two hours until high water. "Once the lifeboat arrived on scene the teenagers could be seen on a rock, with one of them having grazed their arm due to scrambling. "A crew member was transferred onto the rock to provide the casualties with lifejackets and was able to reassure them and help transfer them safely over to the lifeboat." Though the teenagers were found wet, and with a few minor cuts, fortunately both of them were well and were subsequently brought back to the beach at Newton by the crew, where Porthcawl and Port Talbot Coastguard Rescue Teams provided them with minor first aid treatment. Chris added: "We have one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world and it's easy to get caught out, especially if you are not familiar with the area. "Check the tide times on a trusted source like the Met Office and remember there may be local differences depending on where you are and what tide table you are reading." Tirion Dowsett, RNLI water safety delivery support added that the large spring tides predicted for this week might lead to changes in tidal cut off times, and urged people to verify the same from trusted sources. He said: "This time of year we expect more people to be visiting the coast and it should be an amazing experience, creating great memories. "Taking just a few simple steps to ensure you stay safe means everyone can return home with those fond memories. "The large spring tides forecast this week mean areas affected by tidal cut off may be cut off faster than normal, and areas not normally known for tidal cut off may see incidents occur." "Ask someone if you are not sure what the tide table means – the lifeguards are especially helpful and knowledgeable about the beach they work on. "It's hard to imagine how walking can turn out to be such a dangerous activity, this is why it's important to always check the tide times at the start of your day, keep an eye out for the incoming tide and leave enough time to return safely. "If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live. Tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then call for help or swim to safety if you can." If you spot someone in difficulty out in water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fishing vessel capsizes near Yaquina Bay; 3 rescued, 1 missing
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Three people were rescued by the US Coast Guard after a fishing vessel capsized near the Yaquina Bay jetty, the The three who were rescued from the vessel, Das Bug, were 'transferred to EMS,' officials said, while the search for a fourth person is ongoing. An Air Station North Bend helicopter was brought in to help with the search. No further information is available at this time. KOIN 6 News will update this story as developments are confirmed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
11 hours ago
- CBS News
Two paddleboarders rescued from Lake Superior near Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Two paddleboarders were rescued last week after they drifted off shore on Lake Superior near Ontonagon County, Michigan. On Aug. 8, conservation officers Pete Shambaugh and Ethen Mapes with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources responded to a report about two paddleboarders in distress. DNR officials say a 29-year-old woman from Minnesota and a 37-year-old woman from Illinois — both originally from Ontonagon, Michigan — were located a mile from shore and 1.5 miles west of Ontonagon. "They were in good condition overall but just could not paddle against the strong wind to get back to shore," Shambaugh said in a statement. The officers used GPS coordinates provided by dispatch to locate the women, according to a news release. They traveled on the water in an Ontonagon County Sheriff's Office patrol boat, pulling the women aboard and bringing them back to shore. "By this time, with the strong south wind, the individuals had drifted an additional mile and were now approximately 2 miles from shore," Mapes said. "Neither individual had a life jacket, and they had lost one of their paddles in the wind. One of the two had never been on a paddleboard before that day." Michigan DNR says anyone paddleboarding should follow these steps:
