The Malta authorities continue to keep the ports closed to the German NGO's ship, Lifeline, which remains in the Mediterranean with more than 200 migrants on board, waiting for some countries to dock.
On Wednesday night, the boat recovered 224 people from a rubber dinghy in Libyan waters and today participated in the rescue of 113 more migrants who are now on a merchant ship. Italy accused Lifeline of having rescued migrants without waiting for the indications of the Italian Coast Guard; to be irresponsible because they bring at least 224 migrants, when they have a maximum capacity of 50 people and that the Lifeline is in all likelihood an "outlaw boat".
Meanwhile, rescues at sea by Italian organizations continue. Yesterday evening a patrol boat of the Guardia di Finanza intercepted a small boat with five Algerians on board, about 30 miles south of Sant'Antioco, after a fishing boat was reported. Another intervention with the rescue of 10 other Algerians was carried out by the means of the air-naval group of the Fiamme Gialle after being sighted by a helicopter.
The migrants were taken aboard the patrol boat of the Guardia di Finanza and taken to the Cagliari Channel Harbor. The second intervention was particularly challenging due to the changed weather conditions and the conditions of some castaways who had a principle of frostbite. In the last two days the finance guard intercepted 5 vessels in territorial waters with Algerian 46, all reported for illegal entry into the territory of the Italian State.