Italy's coast guard rescues 49 migrants from boat sinking in Mediterranean

ROME: The Italian Coast Guard rescued 49 migrants attempting to travel from North Africa to Europe after their boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Lampedusa Island on Thursday.

A patrol boat belonging to the Coast Guard intervened and rescued the migrants, which were said to be from Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal and Bangladesh, Anadolu Agency citing Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

The survivors said there were other people on the boat.

While it was reported that some of the migrants went missing due to the sinking of the boat, the exact numbers were not known.

The report also said each irregular migrant paid approximately US$650 for the journey.

According to data from Italy's Interior Ministry, the number of irregular migrants who have arrived in the country by sea since the beginning of the year totals 2,268. During the same period last year, the number was 4,963.

-- BERNAMA