The voice of Georgia Baptists since 1822

Log in Subscribe

Scenes of desperation as migrant ship sinks during rescue

Migrants swim next to their overturned wooden boat during a rescue operation by Spanish group Open Arms south of Lampedusa island in the Mediterranean sea Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Migrants swim next to their overturned wooden boat during a rescue operation by Spanish group Open Arms south of Lampedusa island in the Mediterranean sea Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Lifeguards with Spanish group Open Arms help migrants after their wooden boat overturned during a rescue operation south of Lampedusa island in the Mediterranean sea Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Lifeguards with Spanish group Open Arms help migrants after their wooden boat overturned during a rescue operation south of Lampedusa island in the Mediterranean sea Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Francisco Seco

Lifeguards with Spanish group Open Arms help migrants after their wooden boat overturned during a rescue operation south of Lampedusa island in the Mediterranean sea Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Lifeguards with Spanish group Open Arms help migrants after their wooden boat overturned during a rescue operation south of Lampedusa island in the Mediterranean sea Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Francisco Seco

Italian coast guard members help migrants after their wooden boat overturned during a rescue operation south of Lampedusa island in the Mediterranean sea Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Italian coast guard members help migrants after their wooden boat overturned during a rescue operation south of Lampedusa island in the Mediterranean sea Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Francisco Seco

Migrants swim next to their overturned wooden boat during a rescue operation by Spanish group Open Arms south of Lampedusa island in the Mediterranean sea Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Migrants swim next to their overturned wooden boat during a rescue operation by Spanish group Open Arms south of Lampedusa island in the Mediterranean sea Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Francisco Seco

Posted Thursday, August 11, 2022 11:20 am

By FRANCISCO SECO, Associated Press

ABOARD THE ASTRAL (AP) — A Spanish maritime rescue group and the Italian coast guard helped pull some 40 people from the Mediterranean Sea to safety after their overcrowded wooden boat capsized during a rescue operation Thursday.

An Associated Press photographer who was aboard the ship operated by Spanish group Open Arms documented the harrowing rescue, capturing images of people desperately clinging to their overturned boat as it sank.

Open Arms tweeted that all the passengers survived and were transferred to an Italian coast guard ship; both the group and the coast guard had rescuers in the water helping pull people to safety. The passengers originally were from Eritrea and Sudan.

The rescue took place in high winds and rough seas 13 nautical miles (25 kilometers) south of the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, which is closer to Africa than the Italian mainland and is often the destination of choice for migrant-smuggling operations based in Libya.

The Open Arms says it has rescued more than 26,500 people since 2015.

Recent news

Southeastern establishes Charlotte Akin Student Aid Fund to help students in NC, SC and GA

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — During celebrations of the Akins’ 20-year anniversary, Southeastern announced a new endowment in honor of Mrs. Charlotte Akin. The Charlotte Akin Student Aid Fund will supply financial assistance to full-time students who have received care from the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia.

Midwestern Seminary hosts 9Marks conference on membership

KANSAS CITY, Mo—Midwestern Seminary partnered with 9Marks to host “A Conference on Membership” on Tuesday through Wednesday, April 16–17. Speakers Jason K. Allen, Brian Davis, Zach Schlegel, Philip Van Steenburgh, Jared C. Wilson, Jonathan Leeman, and Jeff Lacine brought messages and led panel discussions aimed at providing a biblical understanding of church membership and cultivating meaningful membership practices in the local church.

Gaines encourages Awakening attendees at Southwestern Seminary to ‘pray like it matters’

FORT WORTH, Texas — Encouraging the Southwestern Seminary community and attendees of the Awakening National Prayer Conference held on the Fort Worth campus to “pray like it matters,” Steve Gaines, senior pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee, opened the first session of the conference during the seminary’s regularly scheduled chapel service on Wednesday, April 18.

Southern Seminary hosts first Pastor’s Workshop

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Pastors from across the country came to the campus of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for the first-ever Pastor’s Workshop. This new offering from Southern Seminary is designed for seasoned pastors to deliver a space for learning, networking, and retreat.

New Orleans Seminary welcomes donations from family of school's second president

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College trustees approved faculty changes, received positive academic and financial reports, and welcomed a donation of items of historical value from the family of W. W. Hamilton, the school’s second president.

Truett McConnell's Myesha Hall qualifies for U.S. Olympic Team trials

CLEVELAND, GA. — Standout athlete junior Myesha Hall, representing Truett McConnell University has reaffirmed her exceptional prowess in track and field. At the recent NAIA competition, Hall clinched first place in the women’s long jump with a record-setting leap of 6.29 meters (20 feet and 7.64 inches).