During our first-aid delivery for a rubber boat with approximately 150 migrants on board, a Libyan Coast Guard vessel arrived and attacked the migrants, entering the rubber boat and hitting them with sticks. Sea Watch’s speed boats were furthermore beset aggressively, preventing the crew from further providing life vests and medical aid to the people in need. The violent intervention of the Libyan Coast Guard caused a situation of mass panic on board of the migrant’s rubber boat and caused cause one tube of the rubber boat collapsed, causing the majority of the 150 people to slip into the water. Therefore, Sea Watch crew immediately tried to rescue as many as possible but a binary number of people could not be saved. 4 bodies were recovered onto the Sea-Watch 2, another 4 unconscious people are currently receiving medical treatment. 120 refugees could be rescued aboard Sea Watch vessel”
SAR case number: N.A
SAR organisation: Sea Watch
SAR asset: Sea Watch 3
Incident types: Violent boarding by non-EU authority; Order to stay away by non-EU authority; Order to stay away by EU authority; Pullback; Beatings
Date of SAR (UTC): 21/10/2016
Source of first information for the NGO: MRCC Rome
Starting time of first sighting / engagement with target boat in distress (UTC): 21/10/2016 2:30 am
Vessels
Number of migrant boats: 1
Type of migrant boat(s): Rubber Boat
Number of people on board per boat: 150
Other vessels in the vicinity (e.g. unidentified / cargo / aircrafts): Libya Coast Guard
Actors involved (by asset / institution type): BRF; Okyroe
Location
Position(s) of vessel(s) in distress at the time of SAR request:
Location description: High seas
Approximate distance from coast line: 14 Nautical Miles from the Libyan Coast
Position(s) of rescue(s) at the time of SAR operation(s):
Location description: High seas
Approximate distance from coast line: 14 NAutical Miles from the Libyan Coast
Survivors
Total number of survivors: 120
Fatalities
Total number of confirmed deaths: 30