Ocean Viking Rescues Over 100 Migrants in Mediterranean

The rescue operation saved 101 people, including 29 women and 7 children, from a distressed wooden boat near Libya, with concerns raised over delayed disembarkation policies.

The Ocean Viking, operated by SOS Méditerranée, conducted its first rescue mission of 2025, saving 101 migrants from a wooden boat in distress in international waters off the Libyan coast.
The rescued individuals, including 29 women and 7 children, are primarily from Somalia, Syria, Eritrea, and Egypt and were provided immediate care by SOS Méditerranée and the Red Cross teams.
The Italian authorities designated Ravenna, a port four days away, as the disembarkation point despite rough seas, prompting the NGO to request a closer port citing safety concerns.
SOS Méditerranée criticized the policy of assigning distant ports, arguing it violates maritime law requiring timely disembarkation and jeopardizes lives, calling the approach 'cynical.'
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that 31 migrants have died or disappeared in the Mediterranean in 2025 so far, with over 2,300 fatalities recorded in 2024, making it one of the deadliest migration routes globally.