1,900 migrants rescued off Libyan coast: Italian coast guard

Some 1,900 migrants and refugees were saved in rescue operations in the southern Mediterranean Sea on Friday, and dozens were feared missing, Italian officials said.

The Italian coast guard coordinated some 17 rescue missions overall in the Strait of Sicily, between Italy and Libya, which also involved three Italy's navy ships, four tug boats and a commercial vessel diverted in the area to provide first assistance, Xinhua news agency reported.

Overall, about 1,900 people were found sailing aboard of 10 rubber dinghies, the coast guard said.

So far this week, an estimated 10,000 migrants and refugees overall have been rescued in the southern Mediterranean by naval forces involved in the European Union (EU) naval mission EUNAVFOR MED and EU borders agency Frontex.

Some 4,100 were saved on Thursday alone.

--IANS

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