Italy rescues more than 1,000 exhausted North African migrants

Sources from the Italian coast guard said on April 11 that the force had rescued more than 1,000 immigrants of North African origin from several dilapidated boats in the Mediterranean.

Illegal immigrants rescued by the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea in August 2014. Source: AFP/VNA

The men were rescued on the night of April 10 after the Italian coast guard received a call from merchant ships traveling on that route.

According to ANSA news agency, these boats are about 30 nautical miles off the coast of Libya, and the illegal immigrants are all in a state of hunger, cold and exhaustion.

On a ship, a dead man was found.

On the morning of April 11, the Italian navy also rescued 80 immigrants on a small, old boat off the coast of Santa Maria di Leuca, Puglia, Italy's easternmost point in the Ionio Sea.

Last week, the Italian navy also rescued another 1,500 immigrants on boats heading to the country.

Last year, more than 100,000 people, mainly of North African origin, crossed the sea to Italy in the hope of seeking political asylum or being moved to another European country.

Italy is the closest country to Africa and most boats carrying illegal immigrants depart from Libya, the closest to Italy, and head to Sicily.

According to Vietnam+