[WATCH] 41 migrants brought to Malta

A group of 41 migrants have been brought to Malta following a joint rescue operation between Maltese and Italian forces.

The group includes two babies and eight children, as well as 11 women. They were rescued by the Armed Forces of Malta in an operation initiated late last night.

They include Syrian nationals, Palestinians, and migrants from the sub-Saharan region.

The AFM operations centre received information that a boat carrying migrants was in distress and requested the assistance of a Maltese registered tug boat, the HISPANIA UNO.

An updated position later indicated that the migrant boat was in Maltese Search and Rescue Region (SRR) and the AFM Operations Centre assumed coordination.

Subsequently the AFM Operations Centre instructed the tug boat and the Italian Patrol Boat CP905 to continue towards the location of the migrant boat to provide initial assistance.

In view of the fact that the migrants vessel was in distress and closer to Maltese shores, it was decided that the migrant were to be taken to Malta. The AFM Offshore Patrol Vessel P61 met the Italian Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel at a rendezvous point South of Malta.

The migrants were eventually transferred onboard the AFM Vessel and are expected to disembark at Hay Wharf Base later on today.