ROME: Seventeen migrants rescued after the latest deadly shipwreck in the Mediterranean were brought ashore by the Italian authorities on Monday as Italy faced criticism for its response to the crisis.
Those rescued were taken to the Sicilian town of Pozzallo, Italian newswire ANSA reported, and said they were all originally from Bangladesh.
Thirty people were feared drowned after the boat they were travelling in from Libya capsized in bad weather on Sunday, Italy's coastguard said.
The tragedy follows a Feb. 26 shipwreck near the southern region of Calabria, in which at least 79 people died.
Alarm Phone, a charity that picks up calls from migrant vessels in distress, blamed Italy for not sending its coastguard earlier despite being repeatedly alerted on Saturday that the boat was in trouble.
"Clearly, the Italian authorities were trying to avoid that the people would be brought to Italy, delaying intervention so that the so-called Libyan coastguard would arrive and forcibly return people to Libya," it said in a statement late on Sunday.
Italy's coastguard said the capsizing occurred outside the Italian Search and Rescue area (SAR), and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Rome was doing all it could to avoid shipwrecks.
NO PATROL BOATS AVAILABLE
The vessel, travelling in the direction of Italy, capsized about 110 miles northwest of the Libyan port of Benghazi, according to the Mediterranea Saving Humans charity.
According to a phone conversation transcript shared by German charity Sea-Watch, a duty officer at the Libyan Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said that at the time there were no patrol boats that could be sent from Benghazi.
Rome requested merchant ships in the area to join the rescue efforts, the Italian coastguard said. But the migrant vessel capsized during an attempt to transfer the passengers to the FROLAND merchant ship on Sunday morning, it added.
Rome's ability to rescue migrants at sea has come under scrutiny following last month's shipwreck, and the issue is piling pressure on the rightwing government which took office last October promising to curb the influx of migrants.
Instead, arrivals have surged, with over 20,000 people reaching Italy by sea this year so far, more than triple the around 6,150who arrived in the same period of 2022, official figures show.
Over 4,500 people reached Italy from March 9-11 alone.
The Italian government on Monday said Russian mercenary group Wagner, which has been accused of operating in several African countries including Libya, was to blame for the surge in crossing attempts as part of Moscow's strategy to retaliate against countries supporting Ukraine.
Reuters
Tue Mar 14 2023
![Survivors of Libya shipwreck brought ashore in Italy Survivors of Libya shipwreck brought ashore in Italy](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/61678770917_LIBYA.jpg)
Aerial view shows a packed migrant boat en route from Libya in the central Mediterranean Sea March 11, 2023. - Christian Ghodes/Sea-Watch.org/via REUTERS
![Kematian Nidza Afham tiada unsur jenayah - Polis Kematian Nidza Afham tiada unsur jenayah - Polis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723716849_TBNidzaAfham.jpg)
Kematian Nidza Afham tiada unsur jenayah - Polis
Siasatan kes kematian Muhammad Nidza Afham tidak menemui sebarang unsur jenayah dan ia diklasifikasikan sebagai sebagai mati mengejut (SDR).
![Pelajar tukar kod QR curi duit tabung derma Pelajar tukar kod QR curi duit tabung derma](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723704365_QRCode.jpg)
Pelajar tukar kod QR curi duit tabung derma
Tindakan seorang pelajar jurusan undang-undang menukar kod QR peribadi pada tabung derma sebuah kuil akhirnya terbongkar apabila dia berjaya ditangkap polis baru-baru ini.
![Jepun tamatkan amaran gempa bumi mega Jepun tamatkan amaran gempa bumi mega](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723715377_TBJapan.jpg)
Jepun tamatkan amaran gempa bumi mega
Jepun pada Khamis menamatkan nasihat risiko gempa bumi dengan magnitud yang lebih tinggi daripada biasa, seminggu selepas gegaran kuat di dasar laut Palung Nankai.
Fahmi nafi arah Google nyahaktif ciri graf penukar ringgit
Menjawab tuduhan seorang pengguna X, Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai itu menerusi platform sama menegaskan beliau tidak pernah mengarahkan penyedia perkhidmatan itu berbuat demikian.
![Tular rakaman CCTV, suspek pecah rumah di Sentul ditahan Tular rakaman CCTV, suspek pecah rumah di Sentul ditahan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723715171_TBIPDSentul.jpg)
Tular rakaman CCTV, suspek pecah rumah di Sentul ditahan
Polis menahan seorang lelaki dipercayai terlibat dalam sembilan kes pecah rumah di Residensi Sky Awani 1 dan 2 di Sentul.
!['Stringer' raih banyak faedah sekiranya mencarum dengan Perkeso 'Stringer' raih banyak faedah sekiranya mencarum dengan Perkeso](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723710107_TBFAhmi.jpg)
'Stringer' raih banyak faedah sekiranya mencarum dengan Perkeso
Pengamal media sambilan yang mencarum dengan Perkeso akan dilindungi dan menerima banyak faedah sekiranya berlaku kemalangan ketika menjalankan tugas.
![Jemaah umrah terkandas di lapangan terbang Jeddah mahu penjelasan MAS Jemaah umrah terkandas di lapangan terbang Jeddah mahu penjelasan MAS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723715159_jeddahkandasawani.jpg)
Jemaah umrah terkandas di lapangan terbang Jeddah mahu penjelasan MAS
Beberapa penumpang menunggu lebih 24 jam untuk mendapatkan penjelasan lanjut daripada pengurusan MAB namun terus hampa.
![Kerajaan Persekutuan, negeri perlu tingkat kepantasan beri kelulusan untuk tarik pelabur - PM Anwar Kerajaan Persekutuan, negeri perlu tingkat kepantasan beri kelulusan untuk tarik pelabur - PM Anwar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723712785_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Kerajaan Persekutuan, negeri perlu tingkat kepantasan beri kelulusan untuk tarik pelabur - PM Anwar
Kerajaan Persekutuan, negeri perlu meningkatkan kepantasan dalam memberi kelulusanbagi menjadikan Malaysia tumpuan pelabur.
![Pemandu maut lori terbalik, kesesakan 2 jam di Lebuhraya PLUS Ipoh-Kuala Kangsar Pemandu maut lori terbalik, kesesakan 2 jam di Lebuhraya PLUS Ipoh-Kuala Kangsar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723712690_kemalangantrelerP.jpg)
Pemandu maut lori terbalik, kesesakan 2 jam di Lebuhraya PLUS Ipoh-Kuala Kangsar
Seorang pemandu lori maut manakala kelindan cedera selepas kenderaan yang mereka naiki terbabas lalu terbalik di Kilometer 257 Lebuhraya PLUS arah utara, dekat sini, petang ini.
RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat pendengar, data lebih komprehensif
RADIO 360 Malaysia merentasi 11 stesen radio Astro yang boleh diakses di aplikasi SYOK termasuk Era, Sinar, Gegar, Hitz, Mix, My dan Raaga.
![Persahabatan antarabangsa: Indonesia dibelasah Libya Persahabatan antarabangsa: Indonesia dibelasah Libya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61704254881_TBPialaAsia.jpg)
Persahabatan antarabangsa: Indonesia dibelasah Libya
Persiapan Indonesia menjelang saingan Piala Asia bulan ini kelihatan menerima tamparan apabila skuad Garuda itu dibelasah 0-4 oleh Libya.
![Banjir: Sekolah di Derna dibuka semula Banjir: Sekolah di Derna dibuka semula](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/61696211080_Dernacity.jpg)
Banjir: Sekolah di Derna dibuka semula
Pelajar yang sekolah mengalami kerosakan atau musnah akan menumpang sementara di sekolah lain.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/41680607592_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Masalah politik di Libya sukarkan bantuan kemanusiaan dihantar - Mercy Malaysia Masalah politik di Libya sukarkan bantuan kemanusiaan dihantar - Mercy Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-08/41630397259_AhmadFaizalMohdPe.jpg)
Masalah politik di Libya sukarkan bantuan kemanusiaan dihantar - Mercy Malaysia
Presiden Mercy Malaysia, Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus menjelaskan kemelut politik di Libya itu membuatkan keadaan bertambah teruk.
![Libya bagai dilanda garuda Libya bagai dilanda garuda](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/51694829797_flashflood.jpg)
Libya bagai dilanda garuda
Ribut Daniel yang melanda akhir minggu lalu telah menenggelamkan bandar Derna dan mengakibatkan kemusnahan besar di Libya.
![Angka kematian akibat banjir dijangka cecah 20,000 di Derna, Libya Angka kematian akibat banjir dijangka cecah 20,000 di Derna, Libya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/81694683466_TBLibyaFlooding.jpg)
Angka kematian akibat banjir dijangka cecah 20,000 di Derna, Libya
Angka kematian akibat banjir besar yang melanda timur Libya dijangka mencecah 20,000 di bandar Derna sahaja, lapor agensi berita Jerman (dpa).
![Banjir: Doktor Tanpa Sempadan hantar pasukan kecemasan ke Libya Banjir: Doktor Tanpa Sempadan hantar pasukan kecemasan ke Libya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/41694515323_floods.jpg)
Banjir: Doktor Tanpa Sempadan hantar pasukan kecemasan ke Libya
Doktor Tanpa Sempadan (MSF) pada Rabu berkata pertubuhan bantuan itu menghantar pasukan kecemasan ke Libya susulan ribut dahsyat yang mengorbankan ribuan nyawa di timur negara itu.
![10,000 orang hilang akibat banjir di Libya - Palang Merah 10,000 orang hilang akibat banjir di Libya - Palang Merah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/61694533533_TBLibyaflood.jpg)
10,000 orang hilang akibat banjir di Libya - Palang Merah
Kira-kira 10,000 orang hilang selepas banjir besar di Libya, kata ketua pejabat Libya bagi Persekutuan Palang Merah dan Bulan Sabit Merah Antarabangsa.
![Lebih 15 juta meter persegi kawasan di Libya tercemar sisa bahan letupan Lebih 15 juta meter persegi kawasan di Libya tercemar sisa bahan letupan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/61680683135_periukapi.jpg)
Lebih 15 juta meter persegi kawasan di Libya tercemar sisa bahan letupan
Kenyataan UNSMIL itu sempena sambutan hari antarabangsa untuk memupuk kesedaran mengenai periuk api yang disambut pada 4 April.
![12 maut, 87 cedera pertempuran di Tripoli, Libya 12 maut, 87 cedera pertempuran di Tripoli, Libya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-08/41661658560_Tripoli.jpg)
12 maut, 87 cedera pertempuran di Tripoli, Libya
Pasukan perubatan tidak dapat mengakses kawasan tertentu di Tripoli bagi membantu orang awam yang membuat panggilan kecemasan.