New Lampedusa arrivals increase pressure at hotspot

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 4 - The migrant hotspot on the Italian island of Lampedusa was again badly overcrowded early on Friday following the arrival overnight of 791 people rescued from 20 small boats.
    The migrants were picked up by Coast Guard and Finance Police vessels and by the Open Arms NGO-run migrant-rescue ship.
    There were around 2,200 migrants at the hotspot, which has an official capacity of around 400, early on Friday following the arrival of a total of 2,168 people in 36 hours.
    The police were set to transfer 500 people to Porto Empedocle, in Sicily, via the Galaxy ferry on Friday.
    Italy's southernmost island is often the destination boats carrying migrants and refugees from north Africa head for.
    (ANSA).