Overview

• Humanity 1 located an overcrowded inflatable southeast of Lampedusa in the Maltese search-and-rescue area after roughly four days at sea, according to the NGO.
• Seven people reportedly died before the rescue and two later died on the NGO vessel, bringing the toll to nine, based on survivor accounts cited by Sos Humanity.
• Survivors were found in critical condition with dehydration and hypothermia, and a mother and child suffered severe burns attributed to a gasoline–seawater mixture.
• Rough seas with waves up to three meters and strong winds hampered operations, and the Italian Coast Guard said it evacuated five people to Lampedusa after two failed helicopter attempts.
• Italian authorities initially assigned Bari as the port of disembarkation, which the NGO called unlawful and inhumane, before changing the destination to Porto Empedocle for the 34 remaining survivors.