Ships belonging to the Italian navy, coast guard and various humanitarian organizations rescued close to 4,500 migrants bound for Europe Thursday, as boatloads of asylum-seekers set off from North Africa prompted by a calming of waters in the Mediterranean Sea.
The migrants were picked up from about 40 different boats, a spokesman for Italy’s coast guard told Reuters. The body of a woman was taken from one of the rubber boats. Across the Mediterranean, Libya’s navy intecepted another 1,000 people off the coast of the African country’s port city Sabratha, a spokesman said.
According to a humanitarian group called the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, the sudden surge in departures is “probably the result of week-long, unfavorable weather conditions” coming to an end.
The number of refugees attempting to make the treacherous crossing to Greek islands has reduced by about 98% in 2016 compared to the same period last year, due to an agreement between the European Union and Turkey, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
[Reuters]
- Donald Trump Was Just Indicted. Here's What to Know About the Charges and the Case
- What Could Happen Next for Donald Trump
- Trump's Indictment Drama Showcased His Rivals' Weakness
- Inside Ukraine's Push to Try Putin For War Crimes
- Bad Bunny's Next Move
- Elon Musk Signs Open Letter Urging AI Labs to Pump the Brakes
- Eliezer Yudkowsky: Pausing AI Developments Isn't Enough. We Need to Shut it All Down
- 'How Is This Still Happening?' A Survivor Questions America's Gun Violence Problem
- Cheryl Strayed Will Always Be Here for You
- Who Should Be on the 2023 TIME100? Vote Now