The Italian Coast Guard on Thursday intercepted a boat off the Sardinian coast with nine people onboard including two under age 18. The nine were trying to row their way to shore.
They were moving forward amid the waves using oars, trying to row their boat to the Italian coast. The Italian Financial Police (GDF) on a helicopter caught sight of this scene some 55 miles south of Capo Teulada, on Sardinia. The GDF intercepted the boat, which was carrying 9 people including 2 under age 18. The group of migrants is allegedly from Algeria.
Extremely difficult to row
The helicopter saw the wooden boat and alerted the central office. The migrants were rowing with extreme difficulty due to rough seas. The fast patrol boat PV 5 Oltramonti came alongside the boat and rescued those on it. Taken to Porto Canale, they were entrusted to the FRONTEX team which, alongside the GDF, carried out the disembarking and identification procedures. Afterwards, the migrants were taken to a reception center in Monastir, near Cagliari, escorted by the police.