The civil rescue ship Humanity 1 operated by the non-governmental organization SOS Humanity was navigating to the Emilia Romagna port city of Ravenna on Thursday after rescuing 69 migrants and refugees from a small rubber dinghy adrift in the central Mediterranean off the coast of Libya on Wednesday night.
The group reportedly includes 15 unaccompanied minors.
“None of the people on board were wearing life jackets and the fuel had run out,” said SOS Humanity. “Strong winds and waves over 2 meters made the rescue operations particularly challenging,” it continued.
The NGO reported that the survivors are exhausted and that many were dehydrated and one person was unconscious at the time of rescue, but that their condition has now been stabilized.
1/2🔴Breaking: Bei Wind, über 2m hohen Wellen & schlechter Sicht rettete die Crew der #Humanity1 heute Nacht 69 Menschen von einem überbesetzten Schlauchboot. Viele Menschen waren seekrank & dehydriert, 1 Person ohnmächtig. Alle Geretteten werden an Bord erstversorgt. pic.twitter.com/jokm8dM8fV
— SOS Humanity (@soshumanity_de) April 20, 2023