A single man has been rescued from the Mediterranean Sea after a migrant boat sank en route from Tunisia, with 50 people feared drowned, Malta's armed forces confirmed Sunday. The survivor, found by a merchant vessel after spending 24 hours in the water, provided the casualty estimate to rescue coordinators.
The sinking marks the latest deadly incident on the Central Mediterranean migration route, one of the world's most dangerous sea crossings. The timing coincides with particularly hazardous conditions following Cyclone Harry, which has swept the region in recent days, compounding risks for overcrowded vessels attempting the crossing from North African shores.
Rescue details and survivor condition
Malta's armed forces reported the rescue operation after the merchant ship located the survivor adrift in international waters. The man has been transported to Malta for medical treatment, though authorities have not yet released details about his condition or nationality.
The migrant advocacy organization Alarm Phone, which operates a distress hotline for boats in trouble, confirmed receiving the survivor's account. According to their report, he was the sole person pulled from the water after the vessel went down. The survivor told coordinators that approximately 50 others were aboard when the boat departed Tunisia, though independent verification of passenger numbers remains impossible.
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Ongoing investigation
Maltese and Tunisian authorities have not yet released information about potential search operations for other survivors or recovery efforts. The exact location of the sinking and the boat's intended destination remain unconfirmed. Alarm Phone has called for coordinated search-and-rescue efforts to locate any other possible survivors, though prospects diminish rapidly beyond 24 hours in Mediterranean winter conditions.
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