Migrant rescue boat defies ban and enters Italian waters

A Guardia di Finanza patrol boat seizes the NGO ship Sea Watch, which has been anchored for two days off Lampedusa, Italy, 19 May 2019. Source: EPA/Giuseppe Milana

A charity ship carrying dozens of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean has entered Italian waters off the island of Lampedusa despite the threat of hefty fines from Italy's interior minister.

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Published 27 June 2019 1:16pm

Updated 27 June 2019 1:26pm

By Carlo Oreglia

Presented by Chiara Pazzano

Source: SBS

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A charity ship carrying dozens of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean has entered Italian waters off the island of Lampedusa despite the threat of hefty fines from Italy's interior minister.

"I've decided to enter the port of Lampedusa," Captain Carola Rackete explaines in a video tweeted by the Sea Watch 3 account.

"I know this is risky, but the 42 shipwrecked on board are exhausted. I will bring them to safety."

In a video post late afternoon, Ms Rackete added: "And now they are waiting for further instructions from their superiors. I really hope they will take the rescuees off the ship."

Journalist and Coordinator of InfoMigrants.net Patrizio Nassirio gives us an update.

Read the full story in English here.