SOS Mediterranee Saves 116 Migrants After Deadly Storm Leaves Them Stranded On Gas Platform

The humanitarian rescue group SOS Mediterranee rescued 116 migrants on March 19 from the Miskar gas platform in the Tunisian search and rescue region.

The operation was carried out by its vessel Ocean Viking after the group had been stranded for several days following a storm at sea.

The survivors were later taken to Marina di Carrara in Italy, where they disembarked safely on March 23. Among those rescued were more than 40 unaccompanied minors, 13 women, one child and two babies.

The group had left in two small boats and spent two nights at sea before running into bad weather. Survivors told rescuers that the storm caused people to fall overboard and some did not survive.

After their boats were no longer safe, the migrants managed to climb onto the lower boarding deck of the Miskar gas platform to escape the sea. They remained there for four nights.

The platform, which is staffed by offshore workers, is located in the Gulf of Gabes off Tunisia. Workers on the platform provided basic help while the group waited to be rescued.

SOS Mediterranee said that authorities were aware of the situation but did not act. The group stated that competent states, including Malta, did not respond.

Following an urgent request, the UN Human Rights Committee issued interim measures calling on authorities to ensure the rescue and safe disembarkation of those stranded.

The Miskar platform is not a usual route for migrants. It lies about one-third of the distance between Tunisia and Malta and is an offshore gas facility developed by BG Group, now part of Shell.

The field has estimated reserves of about 1.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Reference: SOS Mediterranee