Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/349229
UP to 19 persons are thought to have died in the latest tragedy in- volving migrants, as a boat carry- ing asylum seekers found itself in difficulties around 80 miles from Lampedusa. The government believes that a stampede before or during the transfer of the migrants to a mer- chant vessel caused their death. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat broke the news while attending the Maratona Ohloq Tbissima in Sta Venera yesterday morning. "In recent hours yet another trag- edy occurred outside our shores, when six boats carrying migrants were detected. "One of the boats faced some dif- ficulties and a number of dead bod- ies will be brought in to Malta while an infant who tragically died will be taken to Italy with his parents who are still alive," Muscat said. According to the Prime Minister, the unconfirmed number of deaths is of between 12 and 15. Government sources told Malta- Today that the infant was among the dead, however the total number of victims could not yet be confirmed. The rescued migrants are being transferred to Italy, while the dead bodies, apart from the infant's, will be brought to Malta. The authorities were alerted by a merchant ship and it is thought that the incident happened while the asylum seekers were being trans- ferred on to another vessel. Although the incident happened inside Malta's search and rescue ar- ea, Lampedusa was the closest port of call. Newspaper post maltatoday YOUR FIRST READ AND FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT PAGE 3 How do the Maltese feel about cannabis? In the first ever survey on drugs conducted by a Maltese newspaper, our poll reveals a general consensus that first-time offenders should not be prosecuted, and that 84% of respondents 'know someone who smokes cannabis' • FULL SURVEY pages 15, 16, 17 INTERVIEW • 12-13 A town in search of an identity • Swieqi's mayor on the nuisance and incivility facing the locality during the summer months HOMELESSNESS Malta's homeless are hiding in plain sight • PG 11 SAVIOUR BALZAN • PG 18 Why Joseph Muscat is so wrong about his intention to postpone elections mt survey A man smokes cannabis during a London demonstration calling for legalisation: few Maltese, 12.5% say cannabis should be sold legally, but the majority believes that drug users should not be treated as criminals, and deem marijuana less dangerous than heroin or cocaine, but more dangerous than alcohol 19 migrants die in latest boat tragedy 80 miles off Lampedusa Noel Muscat €1.20 SUNDAY • 20 JULY 2014 • ISSUE 767 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY Decriminalisation: 85% say first-time drug offenders shouldn't be taken to court