Migrant boat overthrows near Malta: 11 dead

At least 11 migrants died after boat overthrowing near Malta’s coast. Italy's coast guard recovered only bodies of three migrants, the Maltese army called off the search for eight others. Sixteen illegal migrants were rescued by an Italian fishing trawler, four of whom were in serious condition, said Sili Pigni, a spokesman for the Italian coast guard in Catania, Sicily.

Photo: Migrant boat overthrows near Malta: 11 dead

Migrant boat overthrows near Malta: 11 dead

The Italian coast guard joined Maltese army forces in the search, which was aided by a Maltese army helicopter.

The Maltese armed forces commander, Carmel Vassallo, and Parliamentary Secretary Tony Abela told a news conference in Valletta, the Maltese capital, that the search was called off after rescue teams searching the waters found no trace of other survivors.

Italian fishermen raised the alarm at around 5:15 a.m. (0315GMT) after coming upon the capsized boat and people crying for help in the sea about 40 nautical miles east of Malta.

Authorities determined that 27 people had been on the small boat before it capsized, Italian coast guard Capt. Nazareno Lagana said, reports the AP.

N.U.