Navy rescues 370 migrants in Sicily

Italy’s navy rescued about 370 migrants in the waters between Sicily and Libya yesterday as the government deployed ships, helicopters, and drones to help avert further shipwrecks that have already drowned hundreds this month.

A naval frigate and a patrol boat brought some 290 people, mostly Syrians, Somalis and Eritreans, to the tiny southern Italian island of Lampedusa after two migrant vessels used satellite phones to dial for help late on Monday, the navy said.

A Panamanian vessel later picked up about 80 people adrift in Libyan waters and took them to Sicily.