Europe fears 500,000 summer immigrants
ROME – Naval vessels from Italy, Britain, Ireland and other countries steamed toward the waters off Libya on Saturday, bracing for the latest wave of migrants needing rescue from smugglers’ boats. British authorities warned that up to 500,000 people could attempt the perilous crossing this summer.
Capt. Nick Cooke-Priest, on the British warship HMS Bulwark, told reporters: “Indications are there that there are 450,000 to 500,000 migrants in Libya who are waiting at the border” for voyage from the North African country’s Mediterranean coast in hopes of reaching Italian shores.
Italian coast guard spokesman Cmdr. Filippo Marini said that by late Saturday, about 1,900 migrants had been safely rescued in nine separate rescues. Besides Italian navy, coast guard and other military vessels, two German ships, an Irish one and the British one pitched in to save the migrants.
Those were among the more than 3,000 refugees who had been spotted and deemed in need of rescue by authorities.
Associated Press
