'Abandoned' ship carrying 700 migrants docks in Italy

A cargo ship said to be carrying 700 migrants which was taken under Italian control at sea has docked in the Italian port of Gallipoli.

The Blue Sky M had apparently been abandoned by its crew and at one point seemed to be heading directly towards the Italian coast on autopilot.

Reports suggest Syrians and Kurds are among those aboard the ship.

Photos posted by the local Italian Red Cross show the ship in port with people crowding a deck.

Ambulance crews stood waiting amid unconfirmed reports that people on the ship were suffering frostbite.