ACTIVIST rescuers called on Malta today to co-ordinate the rescue of about 60 to 80 people stranded within its Mediterranean search-and-rescue area.

Alarm Phone, an activist network that runs an emergency hotline for people in distress at Europe’s borders, said this morning that it was contacted by someone on the boat on Tuesday.

“During the night, we were contacted by a boat in distress that left Lebanon [heading] to Italy with [about] 57 people,” Alarm Phone said on social media, adding that the boat was broken and drifting.

“[Armed Forces Malta] isn’t reacting to their SOS calls even [though] it is their duty. Rescue now!”

The international medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) also called on the island nation to act as soon as possible.

“There are many merchant vessels in the area that can perform the rescue,” the organisation said this morning.

“They must fulfil their duty obligations of saving the lives of people in distress at sea. The 80 children, women and men on board of this boat in distress cannot wait any longer.”

Meanwhile, MSF’s Mediterranean refugee rescue ship is currently carrying 267 people, including at least 61 minors, rescued in seven operations since Sunday.

Another activist-run rescue ship, the Ocean Viking, has 460 survivors on board, rescued by her crew in 10 operations since last Thursday.

The ship’s medical team leader Rebecca said in a video posted on Tuesday that the medical team was “totally overwhelmed trying to meet the health needs of the 460 survivors that we currently have onboard.

“All of these survivors need to be disembarked, so they can have further health care away from the heat and the sun that is compromising their health even further.”