More than 1,000 migrants whose overcrowded boats encountered problems in the Mediterranean Sea were brought to two Italian ports on Saturday, local media reported.
More than 1,000 migrants whose overcrowded boats encountered problems in the Mediterranean Sea were brought to two Italian ports on Saturday, local media reported.
The Coast Guard announced a major rescue operation on Friday after three boats were spotted drifting off the coast of Italy.
487 migrants were brought to the port of Crotone early Saturday morning, while 584 migrants were brought to Reggio Calabria by coast guard vessel.
The Italian coast guard has been heavily criticized in recent days for failing to help a boat that capsized off the coast of Calabria after leaving Turkey in late February.
The Interior Ministry says more than 17,500 people have arrived in Italy by sea so far this year, almost three times the number in the same period last year.
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