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Some 13 800 migrants were rescued in the Central Mediterranean last week in nearly 90 search and rescue operations. All vessels and aircraft deployed by Frontex in the area took part in the operations, saving almost 5 000 lives. All the rescued migrants have been disembarked in Italy.

Most of the migrants were rescued from rubber dinghies off the Libyan coast, although some of them were on board wooden boats and fishing vessels. These boats were in poor condition and filled well over their capacity. This lead to three fatal incidents where wooden boats capsized. So far, more than 50 bodies had been recovered and hundreds more people are feared drowned, based on unconfirmed statements by the surviving migrants.

“The dramatic rescue operations last week showed how the ruthless smugglers cram as many people as possible onto unseaworthy boats with little regard for human life,” said Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri. “Every single vessel and aircraft deployed by Frontex in the area was involved in search and rescue operations.”

Frontex currently has 14 vessels, four aircraft and three helicopters taking part in Operation Triton in the Central Mediterranean. So far this year, Frontex-deployed crews rescued close to 18 000 people in the area.