Hundreds more migrants heading to Italy as Aquarius diverted to Spain

Migrants being transfered from the Aquarius
Migrants being transfered from the Aquarius Copyright Reuters
By Euronews
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Euronews journalist on Aquarius reports that the ship is departing for Spain along with two Italian vessels that took many of the 629 rescued migrants to ensure their safe passage

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A convoy containing hundreds of migrants rescued by the Aquarius ship is en route to Spain.

Saved in the Mediterranean over the weekend, the 629 passengers of the Aquarius were refused entry to Italy on Sunday night, after interior minister Matteo Salvini said his country had taken too many newcomers.

After Malta also said no, Spain stepped in and the migrants, including a number of children and unaccompanied minors, were transferred from the overloaded Aquarius into a flotilla of boats to complete their journey.

Separately, an Italian coastguard ship with 937 migrants on board is returning to Sicily while another rescue vessel, the Sea Watch, is refusing to take on passengers picked up by the US Navy without a guarantee that Italy will allow them to disembark.

The incident around the Aquarius has sparked a diplomatic row that has opened up the divides within Europe. Hungary has given its support to Salvini's stance while France has been fiercely critical.

Euronews' Anelise Borges is the only broadcast journalist on board the Aquarius and you can hear her account of its voyage here.

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