101 Migrants Rescued by Ocean Viking Reach Taranto

Taranto: The migrant-rescue vessel Ocean Viking, operated by the NGO Sos Mediterranee, arrived at the Puglia port of Taranto with 101 migrants on board. The individuals were rescued on Friday in the Mediterranean.

According to Ansa News Agency, the passengers, including 29 women and 23 unaccompanied minors with one as young as a year old, have disembarked successfully. Despite facing challenging weather conditions with high seas and waves reaching up to 2.5 meters, the migrants were reported to be in good condition upon arrival.

The operations to identify and welcome the migrants, which included conducting medical checkups, were coordinated by the prefecture of Taranto. The group of migrants is composed of 32 Somalis, 26 Syrians, 15 Eritreans, 13 Egyptians, six Palestinians, three Sudanese, two Iraqis, and one Ethiopian.

The rescue operation took place on Friday when the migrants were found aboard a wooden boat in the Libyan search and rescue (SAR) zone. Local authorities have stated that the migrants will be relocated to various destinations outside of Taranto.