Times of Malta is informed that the fire was put out in the early hours on Friday, and an Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat was dispatched to the location of the vessel.

Hours after the fire was put out, Flotilla and activists supporting the campaign were still urging the Maltese authorities to rescue the people aboard.

However, the Maltese government told the media that the people on board had refused to board a tug vessel that had put out the fire following contact with the Malta Vessel Traffic Services.