DUBLIN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Irish naval vessel, LE Eithne, was on Thursday involved in its first rescue operation of migrants in the Mediterranean, Defense Minister Simon Coveney said.
The Irish flagship, as part of the coordinated response to the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, was alerted to five craft in potential distress approximately 60 km off the coast of Libya, Coveney said.
LE Eithne has been tasked by the Italian coastguard to recover the occupants of two of the vessels and other naval vessels in the area are responding to the remaining three migrant vessels, he said.
The vessel completed the rescue of 88 personnel from the first craft with more expected from the second vessel, which is currently in progress, he added.
The Irish naval vessel is providing medical assistance, food, water and dry clothes to those in need and will transfer them safely to port in Italy as soon as possible, according to the minister.
LE Eithne, with a crew comprising approximately 65 personnel, was deployed to the Mediterranean in mid-May to assist the Italian authorities in the humanitarian rescue operations.
It will be deployed to the Mediterranean for a period of up to six months over the summer period, subject to the operational demands and requirements arising in the theatre of operations.
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