Rome, Oct. 21 (LaPresse) – Following a request for cooperation from the Maltese SAR Authority, the Italian Coast Guard ship Dattilo-CP940 has completed in recent hours the operations to recover bodies at sea that were started in previous days. The activities were coordinated by the Maltese Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, after an Italian Coast Guard aircraft had located a capsized boat with people on the hull during the night of October 16-17.
In total, 7 bodies were recovered, belonging to one man, five women, and one minor. Immediately after the report, a passing merchant ship and an Italian Coast Guard patrol boat intervened, saving 11 people and recovering one body. The operations also involved Maltese aerial units, units from the European Agency Frontex, and the Italian Guardia di Finanza.
Search and recovery continued for several days due to difficult weather and sea conditions, which often forced suspension of operations to guarantee the safety of the personnel. The wreck was constantly monitored by naval units and Italian Coast Guard divers.