Migrant reception capacity on Lampedusa to be expanded

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 27 - Reception capacity on Lampedusa is to be expanded with the creation of an additional 850 places within the next 20 days, the interior ministry said on Wednesday evening.
    The small Sicilian island is struggling to cope with the influx of migrants and refugees from north Africa, which has increased significantly in recent weeks.
    On Thursday morning there were 2,705 people in the hotspot in Contrada Imbriacola against an official capacity of less than 400 places.
    Meanwhile efforts are underway to transfer people away from Lampedusa after the arrival of 1,078 in 20 separate landings on Wednesday further compounded the overcrowding.
    Provisions have been made to transfer up to 2,900 arrivals by Friday in an operation involving the navy, air force, finance police, coast guard and regular ferry, according to the interior ministry.
    A first group of 389 migrants and refugees departed by ferry to Porto Empedocle on Wednesday evening. (ANSA).