Italian coast guard intercept 137 migrants off Sicily
- 11 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
The Italian coastguard released video of a night-time operation to intercept some 137 migrants from a boat off the coast of Sicily on Saturday.
According to a statement the operation took place at around 0145 in the morning local time.
The video released by the coast guard showed officers approaching the migrant vessel in the dark, with many of the migrants seen seated on the deck of the boat. Women and children were among the migrants, the video showed.
The migrants were then helped board the coastguard vessel where they were given snacks and drinks before being taken to the port of Pozzallo in Sicily.
According to the coastguard the group included 19 women and 38 children.
More than 32,000 migrants have made the journey to southern Italy by boat so far this year, according to the United Nations.
Italy has increased patrols in the seas between Libya, Tunisia and Italy since more than 360 mainly Eritrean migran
The Italian coastguard released video of a night-time operation to intercept some 137 migrants from a boat off the coast of Sicily on Saturday.
According to a statement the operation took place at around 0145 in the morning local time.
The video released by the coast guard showed officers approaching the migrant vessel in the dark, with many of the migrants seen seated on the deck of the boat. Women and children were among the migrants, the video showed.
The migrants were then helped board the coastguard vessel where they were given snacks and drinks before being taken to the port of Pozzallo in Sicily.
According to the coastguard the group included 19 women and 38 children.
More than 32,000 migrants have made the journey to southern Italy by boat so far this year, according to the United Nations.
Italy has increased patrols in the seas between Libya, Tunisia and Italy since more than 360 mainly Eritrean migran