Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Wednesday that after an 11-hour rescue mission, more than 400 migrants were rescued from a boat off the coast of Malta.
MSF’s rescue ship, the Geo Barents, received the distress signal while going to shelter in the Mediterranean due to bad weather, according to a tweet from the charity.
The Geo Barents arrived at the boat at 4:00 a.m. Tuesday, “after more than 10 hours of navigation in a stormy sea,” according to MSF.
“Unfortunately, the weather did not allow our team to directly perform the rescue, which could have endangered the lives of the people and those of the MSF team,” it said.
However, by early afternoon, the Geo Barents was able to launch its speed boats to the vessel, according to MSF, who posted pictures of the deck of the blue and white boat crowded with people wearing life jackets.
“After more than 11 hours of operation, the rescue is now over and a total of 440 people, including 8 women and 30 children, are now safely aboard GeoBarents and being cared for by the team,” the charity tweeted.
