Migrant rescues and landings resumed Sunday on the stepping stone island of Lampedusa, closer to Africa than to Europe. amid a fresh wave of arrivals after a few days of respite..
There were two fresh rescues and more sightings of boatloads of migrants made off the coast of Lampedusa by NGO ships and a Guardia di Finanza (tax police) helicopter, amid flows that have more than doubled this year despite government action against traffickers.
After five days of a total stop to rescues and landings, due to bad weather to the south of Italy, the phenomenon of immigration is once again becoming evident off the Pelagie Islands, local sources said.
The NGO ship Ocean Viking has already boarded 69 migrants and spotted a wooden boat with other people.
Another charity-run ship, Sea Punk1, spotted a boat, with about 150 migrants on board, sailing towards the largest of the Pelagie islands.
The same NGO ship is rescuing a small boat with about 40 people.
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