(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 8 - EU border agency Frontex did all it could in flagging the presence of many people aboard a migrant boat that went on to break up in rough seas on the Calabrian coast killing at least 72 migrants on February 26, European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told a press conference on the Cutro disaster Wednesday.
    "I spoke to Frontex, the agency was there and was there to help Italy," she said.
    "What the plane saw was sent directly to Rome and with the thermal camera it was seen that there were many people below deck.
    "The plane monitored the situation as long as there was fuel.
    "Frontex did everything it had to do, unfortunately it was not enough.
    "If the plane had had more fuel it would have noticed the worsening weather conditions".
    Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said Tuesday the boat broke up because of an abrupt turn by smugglers and that Rome had done all it could to save the migrants.
    The centre-left opposition Democratic Party (PD) has called on Piantedosi to resign over remarks apparently seeming to say the migrants brought their fate on themselves and their children and for a failure to send out the coast guard, which was equipped to make rescues even in the force seven seas.
    Piantedosi said the smugglers deliberately evaded checks by tax police vessels which could have flagged up the worsening conditions aboard and triggered an alert for the coast guard.
    (ANSA).