Yahoo News Thousands Of Migrants Rescued In Mediterranean
The Italian coastguard has coordinated the rescue of up to 5,800 migrants this weekend alone, it has been revealed.
The refugees were plucked from boats off the coast of Libya as they made the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean, the coastguard said.
Eight migrants were found dead on board two of the vessels, it added.
Another two drowned after jumping into the sea to rush towards the rescue teams.
Video footage released by the coastguard showed desperate migrants scrambling towards the rescue boat as it approached their rickety, overcrowded vessel.
A small baby and several young children were among the first to be pulled to safety.
It is believed to have been the biggest rescue mission of its kind so far this year.
Some 10 Italian vessels, four private boats and a French ship acting on behalf of the European border control agency took part in the operation, coordinated by Italy, which receives the largest number of Mediterranean migrants.
A number of those rescued have already been brought to Italy's southernmost island Lampedusa and Trapani, Sicily. More are expected to be brought to shore overnight and on Monday.
Separately, authorities in Egypt said 31 people were rescued and three found dead when a boat attempting to reach Greece sank off its coast.
It comes just two weeks after the worst Mediterranean shipwreck in living memory saw almost 900 migrants drown off the coast of Libya when their overloaded boat hit a Portuguese cargo ship and capsized.
The captain of the vessel, who survived the disaster, has appeared at a court in Italy accused of multiple homicides, people smuggling and causing a shipwreck.
His brother has claimed the captain, identified as 27-year-old Mohammed Ali Malek , was forced to pilot the vessel at gunpoint.
In total, an estimated 1,750 migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean to Europe this year alone.
That is 30 times more than during the same period in 2014, according to the International Organisation for Migration.
It is believed the surge in migrant vessels has been fuelled by smugglers taking advantage of calmer seas, however many also blame cuts to Europe's search-and-rescue capabilities .
The EU decided to end the Italian navy's Mare Nostrum mission last year after several EU members, including the UK, said they could not afford to fund it.
In response to last month's disaster, European leaders have now agreed to triple funding to the EU's scaled-down sea patrol mission.
Britain has also sent the Royal Navy's HMS Bulwark to help rescue efforts.
The 19,000 tonne assault ship is supported by two UK Border Force cutters and three Royal Navy Merlin helicopters with sophisticated radar.
