Rome [Italy], March 8: More than a week after the boat accident off the coast of southern Italy, which killed dozens of migrants, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi continues to see no misconduct on the part of the police and coastguard.
In a speech in parliament in Rome on Tuesday, the politician reported on the events of the early morning hours of February 26. An emergency call was received by the control centre only at around 4 am (0300 GMT).
The emergency services were then alerted, but help came too late for many adults and children on the boat. Piantedosi said that 72 bodies had been found so far.
For days after the accident, the police, coastguard and government faced heavy criticism that they had not done everything possible to rescue the migrants.
Piantedosi sharply rejected this. The authorities had followed all rules and chains of command.
Source: Qatar Tribune
