Migrant landings on Lampedusa surge, 750 people at hotspot

(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 23 - A total of 214 migrants were reported to have reached the island of Lampedusa between Sunday night and Monday after the four boats on which they were travelling were rescued by port authorities and an NGO-run ship.
    On Sunday, five landings were recorded for a total of 323 people.
    Lampedusa's hotspot on Monday was hosting 750 people after the latest arrivals.
    The latest boats to reach the Sicilian island were rescued by port authorities and by the Astral vessel operated by the NGO Open Arms with rescued passengers including 72 citizens of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon and Syria; 18 Sudanese and Syrian citizens; 40 Syrians and 84 Egyptians, Sudanese and Syrians.
    Their vessels had departed from Zawiya, Sabratha and Gargarish in Libya, passengers said.
    Overall, more than 1,000 migrants landed over the weekend on Italy's southern coast, including on Lampedusa as well as in Calabria and in the southern part of Puglia. (ANSA).