- Title: ITALY-MIGRANTS/MORNING More than 600 migrants arrive in Sicily
- Date: 17th February 2015
- Summary: PORTO EMPEDOCLE, SICILY, ITALY (FEBRUARY 17, 2015) (REUTERS) NAVY VESSEL CARRYING RESCUED MIGRANTS APPROACHING PORT MIGRANTS AND RESCUERS IN WHITE PROTECTIVE SUITS LOOKING ON FROM VESSEL RESCUERS SIGNALLING TO MIGRANTS TO STAY SEATED MIGRANTS SEATED ON DECK LOOKING ON VESSEL DOCKING IN PORT MIGRANTS BEING LINED UP ON DECK MIGRANTS STANDING ON DECK RESCUERS AND MEDICAL WORK
- Embargoed: 4th March 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA3B4V14A0JBB6OD5GZ1I3YSO6U
- Story Text: Some 642 migrants have been taken to the Sicilian port of Porto Empedocle after being recovered at sea by Italian coast guard and merchant vessels.
The Italian navy vessel carrying the migrants, who were rescued in more than ten operations at sea in recent days, arrived in port on Tuesday (February 17) morning. Rescue personnel assisted the migrants, who were then placed in buses and driven to local medical centres.
The majority of the migrants were Subsaharan or Syrian, according to rescuers. Several young children were helped disembark the vessel by the rescue workers who were dressed in white protective suits.
Over 2,000 migrants have been rescued by the Italian coast guard and merchant ships near the Libyan coast over the past days, Italian media say.
Better weather has encouraged migrants to make the perilous journey from North Africa, where a breakdown of order in Libya has made it almost impossible to police the traffickers who pack people onto rickety boats.
More than 300 people died last week trying to make the crossing. Last year 3,500 died attempting to make the same journey, before Italy closed its Mare Nostrum search and rescue mission in December. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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