2,900 migrants saved in rescues

Italian coastguard ships and vessels from a multi-nation naval mission and humanitarian organisations rescued at least 2,900 migrants yesterday from 21 boats launched by smugglers from Libyan shores, authorities said.

The coastguard said the rescues were carried out by military vessels from Italy, Spain, Ireland, Britain as well as a boat run by humanitarian personnel.

The Irish naval vessel Le Éithne was involved in at least six of the operations, rescuing nearly 600 migrants from inflatable rubber dinghies that needed help in the waters northwest of Libya, according to an Irish military statement.

About 100 of the migrants were being brought to the tiny island of Lampedusa, off Sicily. Authorities were determining which larger, southern Italian ports would receive the others today.

Libyan-based smugglers wait out rough seas and then launch many of their boats, either unseaworthy wooden fishing boats or motorised dinghies, when the Mediterranean is calmer.

So far this year, some 60,000 migrants saved by ships in a multi-nation search and rescue mission have been brought to Italian ports.