Rome, Aug 19 (IANS/EFE): The Italian coast guard announced the rescue of 116 Europe-bound migrants who were found in a sailboat a short distance from the coast of Calabria, Italy.
The rescue operation to recover the sailboat's passengers was conducted by a Croatian unit in coordination with the national relief centre of the coast guard in Rome, a branch of the Italian transport ministry, the coast guard announced on Tuesday.
The rescued migrants were escorted by the Croatian boat to the port of Messina in Sicily.
Italy continues to receive hundreds of migrants who try to make the perilous Mediterranean cross from North Africa.