Ocean Viking helps 175 migrants in the Mediterranean

The Ocean Viking, SOS Mediterranean's rescue ship at sea, picked up on Saturday 175 migrants who were on "

" off Libya, announced the European NGO.

On Saturday morning, the Ocean Viking first rescued 57 people aboard a "

" which was sailing in international waters off Libya, SOS Mediterranean said.

Then in the afternoon, the crew carried out two additional rescues in the same area: around noon, 54 people including women were brought to safety from an inflatable boat.

“

,” adds the NGO.

A little later, 64 other people were rescued from a wooden boat, bringing the number of survivors on board the rescue vessel to 175.

At least two pregnant women and 33 minors, 22 of whom are unaccompanied, are among them.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 1,146 people died at sea in the first half of 2021 while trying to reach Europe. SOS Méditerranée claims to have rescued more than 30,000 people since February 2016, first with the Aquarius, then the Ocean Viking.