Italy: More than 1,600 migrants brought to shore in two days

ADVERTISEMENT

More than 1,600 migrants were brought to shore on Friday and Saturday in a number of operations in the Mediterranean coordinated by the Italian coastguard.

Among those rescued on Saturday were over 700 migrants found sailing off Libya’s coasts on inflatable dinghies. A coastguard ship took them to Palermo in Sicily.

Twelve people were found dead on one dinghy, which was said to have been sinking by the time rescuers arrived.

As the Europe-bound exodus continues, seven suspected people smugglers were arrested in Sicily.