EUROPEAN and Libyan coastguards were urged not to stand by and watch today as another refugee boat in the central Mediterranean appeared to be sinking.

The activist network Alarm Phone announced at 9am that it had been contacted by a group of about 88 people in a rubber boat.

“They said that part of the boat was deflated and people went overboard,” Alarm Phone said.

“They keep calling in panic and ask for rescue. They should be found before it’s too late.”

The group contacted Alarm Phone again later in the morning.

“[They] are panicking, they told us that five people have already drowned. A shipwreck is happening off the Libyan coast right now.

“EU, do not watch: act! Don’t let them drown,” the network urged.

Alarm Phone’s latest update on the boat says: “A few minutes ago, the [roughly] 85 people were screaming on the phone: ‘We are dying!’

“This morning, the Libyan coastguard told us that they would intervene, but nothing has happened since. They are ready to capture boats — but never to rescue.”

Elsewhere in the Mediterranean, a six-month pregnant woman and her brother were evacuated by Italian coastguards from Spanish refugee-rescue ship Open Arms. 

“We continue with 217 people on the deck, many children, waiting for a safe port to disembark,” Open Arms said on social media on this afternoon.