More than 10 of the migrants on a rescue ship stranded off southern Italy jumped overboard and tried to swim ashore on Tuesday as the Spanish charity operating the vessel remained in a stand-off with the Italian government over the migrants’ fate.
The ship Open Arms, at sea for 19 days with almost 100 migrants onboard, has been waiting just off the port of Lampedusa, asking to bring the mostly African migrants ashore despite an Italian ban on private rescue ships docking.
“Nine people have thrown themselves into the water … The situation is out of control,” the Open Arms tweeted, after earlier posting a video of other migrant who had jumped in the water, his way blocked by an Italian Coast Guard boat.
Reuters footage later showed another five people jump. It was not immediately clear if they were all migrants or if some were lifeguards.
The first man overboard, a Syrian, was rescued by Italian authorities, who are caring for him, an Open Arms spokeswoman said. Italian coastguards also went to the rescue of those who jumped later, Reuters reporters saw.
Reuters footage showed a few people being brought to the Open Arms on a small dinghy but it was not clear if they were among the rescued migrants.
Italy has taken a tough line on migrant entry, saying it has borne too much responsibility for handling African migration to Europe. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini says the charity-run ships have become “taxis” for people smugglers.
The charity says the situation on board is desperate and some migrants are suicidal. The passengers are sleeping jammed together on deck and sharing two toilets. Dozens of migrants have been taken ashore since the ship entered Italian waters because they were said to be minors or ill.