Albanian Border Police rescued 11 migrants after their small vessel was reported in distress during the early hours of Friday, approximately eight nautical miles off the mouth of the Vjosa River, authorities said.

Following the emergency alert, Border Police deployed two patrol boats to the area and successfully located the vessel. All 11 people on board were safely rescued and brought ashore.

According to preliminary information, the migrants are nationals of five countries in Africa and Asia: one from Haiti, one from Afghanistan, one from Liberia, three from Pakistan, and five from Bangladesh.

The rescued individuals have been transferred to the premises of the Vlora Regional Police Directorate, where authorities are carrying out identification procedures and other required administrative and investigative steps.

Authorities have not yet determined the group's intended destination or whether they were attempting to reach Italy aboard the small vessel. Officials said further details are expected to emerge after interviews with the migrants and the completion of the ongoing investigation.