Italian Coast Guard vessels rescued 432 migrants in two separate operations after receiving calls for help in the seas near Libya and Malta, officials said Thursday.
One boat crammed with 90 people was rescued Wednesday while another vessel was almost sinking with 342 migrants on board when Italian rescuers found it Thursday, in response to a distress call from Malta.
Three people needed urgent medical help and were rushed to the Italian port of Lampedusa.
Government officials said Wednesday that almost 100,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, some arriving on their own but many rescued by Italian services under the Mare Nostrum program established last year.
Most are fleeing conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa and are so desperate to find safety in Europe that they make the risky crossing.
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