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Coastguard helps Libya sea rescue No trace of 'missing' human cargo
(about 5 hours later)
Coastguards in Falmouth, Cornwall, have launched a rescue operation to try to save 59 people abandoned on an inflatable boat off the coast of Libya. No trace has been found of a small boat with 59 occupants thought to be in difficulties off the Libyan coast.
An Ethiopian based in the UK appealed to them for help after receiving a call by satellite phone from the boat. Coastguards in Falmouth launched a rescue operation after an Ethiopian in the UK appealed to them when he took a satellite call from the boat.
A Coastguard spokesman said the group, which includes four pregnant women, were cast adrift after being falsely told they were in Italian waters. A Coastguard spokesman said a Tunisian ship responded to a call for help but, despite a search, found nothing.
They were, in fact, only 64 miles from the north African coast. There were two other boats in the area, both under power and carrying a total of 80 people, he said.
The group are understood to have left north Africa two days ago, trying to get to Europe. This is a truly awful episode in human trafficking Simon Rabett, rescue centre co-ordinator The original call said there were 15 women, seven children and 37 men on board.
The spokesman said there were 15 women, seven children and 37 men on board. The spokesman said: "There was no sign of bodies or flotsam, so it's all a bit of a mystery."
"The craft is taking water and it has no engine," he said. It is known that a large amount of human trafficking by boat goes on in the waters, with people anxious to reach Europe.
"The weather has worsened, they have no food or water. The Falmouth team used an "enhanced group call" to alert vessels in the specific search area. This enables them to pinpoint any area of sea and then contact vessels within it.
"They had all their money taken from them." Ships in the area are equipped with apparatus enabling them to listen out for special emergency calls and respond, as was the case with the Tunisian supply ship Asatart, which carried out the abortive search.
Coastguards located the craft early on Wednesday and were working with both the Italian and Maltese authorities and with the British Embassy in Tripoli to get assistance.
A widespread alert and mayday signal to all shipping in the area was being broadcast from Falmouth Coastguard in an effort to get a merchant ship to render assistance if they can.
Simon Rabett, rescue centre co-ordination manager, said: "This is a truly awful episode in human trafficking."