Italian coast guards rescue more than 300 African migrants

Italian coast guards on Sunday night rescued more than 300 illegal African migrants near the island of Lampedusa in three separate incidents.

In the first two incidents, 204 migrants, most of whom are from Sub-Saharan African countries sailing in two boats, were rescued near the island of Lampedusa.

A statement from the Italian coast guards obtained in Tripoli said an Italian patrol arrested a boat carrying 100 illegal migrants facing difficulties about 120 km off the coast of the island of Lampedusa.

After they were rescued, the migrants told the patrol about the presence of another boat carrying other illegal migrants about 49 km off the coast.

During the same night, the Italian coast guards rescued another 100 illegal migrants of Eritrean nationality in the same region. (PANA/NAN)