Rescue efforts from the NGO Sea Watch successfully evacuated 32 migrants stranded on an oil platform in the Mediterranean, revealing the dire challenges faced by those attempting perilous journeys across the sea.
Rescuers Aid Migrants Stranded on Oil Platform in the Mediterranean
Rescuers Aid Migrants Stranded on Oil Platform in the Mediterranean
Thirty-two migrants have been rescued from a British Gas oil platform after enduring days without food or water.
In a harrowing incident in the Mediterranean Sea, thirty-two migrants were rescued after spending several desperate days stranded on a British Gas-managed oil platform off the coast of Tunisia. The group, comprised of "women, men, and children," faced severe privation with no access to food or water, as reported by Mediterranea, a humanitarian rescue organization dedicated to aiding those in distress at sea. Tragically, there was confirmation of one death among the stranded individuals.
The NGO Sea Watch successfully coordinated the rescue on Tuesday afternoon, bringing all 32 individuals aboard their vessel, the Aurora. However, the future for the rescued migrants remains uncertain as no European country has yet designated a port of safety for the ship, despite the urgent circumstances posed by their situation in international waters bordering the Tunisian and Maltese search and rescue zones.
The plight of these migrants came to light when an NGO monitoring plane, Seabird, located an empty rubber dinghy near the oil platform on March 1. Following this discovery, the stranded individuals reached out to Alarm Phone, an emergency hotline for those in maritime distress. During a distress call, they reported dire conditions—days without nourishment and a critical state of health. One account shared via social media showed a young man in a white t-shirt, who spoke in Tigrinya, relaying their desperate circumstances. He described leaving Libya five days earlier, only to have their dinghy capsize. "Those who made it here and didn't die at sea are dying of hunger and exhaustion. If nobody intervenes soon, we will obviously die," he proclaimed, as his companions appeared visibly cold and shaken amidst the turbulent sea.
According to the United Nations, over 210,000 people attempted the perilous journey across the Central Mediterranean in 2023, with more than 60,000 being intercepted and returned to African shores—a stark reminder of the ongoing migration crisis that faces vulnerable populations in search of safety and opportunity.
