Italy tackles surge of migrant sea rescues and deportations in the Mediterranean

In early June 2026, Italian and humanitarian rescue groups responded to a new emergency in the central Mediterranean. A drifting boat carrying 49 people ran out of fuel in the Maltese search‑and‑rescue zone, prompting an alarm call from migrants who had left Libya. NGOs reported a total of 96 migrants rescued across the incident, including 47 people saved by the humanitarian vessel Humanity 1 the day before. Sea‑Watch announced that its new fast rescue ship Aurora 2 has entered service to maintain rescue operations amid legal disputes over the detention of civilian vessels under Italy’s Piantedosi law, which has already led to the detention of dozens of ships.

Separately, the coastal province of Crotone in Calabria saw two separate landings of migrants on its Ionian shore. After identification and health checks at the Isola di Capo Rizzuto reception centre, the provincial police chief, Renato Panvino, ordered 21 deportation orders for migrants without international protection claims. The operation was coordinated by the local prefecture and involved police scientific services to document arrivals and enforce national immigration rules.