Situation is ‘explosive’ for 134 migrants stuck off the coast of Italy

Migrants on the Spanish migrant rescue ship Open Arms, close to the Italian shore in Lampedusa, Italy August 16 2019. Picture: REUTERS / GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANEThe captain of a Spanish charity ship carrying 134 rescued migrants warned on Friday of the “explosive” situation on board the vessel anchored within swimming distance of Italy’s Lampedusa island but forbidden to approach.

“Every second that passes, the bomb ticks a second closer. Either someone cuts the red cable and defuses this bomb now, or the Open Arms will explode,” he told Spain’s TVE television. “This is inhuman. We’re close to land and people could swim there. They want to throw themselves in the water. It’s untenable. They can’t take it anymore.”

“France, Germany, Romania, Portugal, Spain and Luxembourg have told me that they are ready to welcome the migrants,” Conte said in an open letter to Salvini, who has sought to bar all NGO rescue vessels from entering Italian waters. Responding to Conte, Salvini wrote on Facebook: “It is clear that without resolve, the European Union would never have lifted a finger, leaving Italy and the Italians on their own like did for years.”

Salvini then signed a new one blocking the ship, but in a demonstration of his diminished power, Italy’s defence minister blocked it on Thursday.

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