500 migrants rescued by launches off Sicily

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 7 - Some 500 migrants were rescued by Italian launches off Sicily Monday, officials said.
    The launches have already taken over 250 of them to the Sicilian port of Augusta where they are already disembarking while around 2220 others, mainly woman and children, are to be taken to another port city, Pozzallo.
    Coordinated by the prefecture of Siracusa, a reception plan has already been activated which also envisages health checks and identification procedures, the officials said.
    On Friday morning Alarm Phone reported a boat in difficulty off Malta, with 500 people on board, which left Libya three days ago. (ANSA).