Colonel Edric Zahra, Deputy Commander of AFM, revealed that the boat, approximately 7.6 meters in length and powered by two motors, was transporting migrants from Syria, Eritrea, Ghana, and Egypt across the Mediterranean Sea.

The AFM was alerted to the situation around 10:45 a.m. (0945 GMT) when the boat was approximately 5 nautical miles (9.2 km) off Malta's south coast. Responding swiftly, an AFM aircraft was dispatched to the scene, followed by a vessel when the boat had approached around 3.5 nautical miles (6.5 km).

Tragically, the boat capsized during the rescue operation, plunging all aboard into the sea. Subsequently, 21 individuals, all men, were rescued and transported to a detention center, while eight men were hospitalized for treatment. Regrettably, the bodies of four men and a woman were recovered from the sea.

Colonel Zahra noted that the small size of the migrants' boat made it susceptible to destabilization with any movement. Search and rescue efforts for potential survivors at sea are ongoing, with an investigation into the incident underway. (ILKHA)