There are currently 1,400
migrants on Lampedusa after five more landings on the
stepping-stone island between Italy and North Africa, sources
said Friday.
Overall, some 276 migrants have arrived on the island south of
Sicily in the space of eight hours.
They have been added to the 250 who arrived Thursday on six
boats.
The overnight landings ranged from the minimum of a small boat
with six Tunisians aboard to a maximum of 72 migrants on the
biggest craft, including Libyans and sub Saharans.
Most of the boats were rescued by port authority and finance
guard vessels.
Migrant reception facilities on Lampedusa have been packed way
beyond capacity for several weeks.
The nationalist opposition League party has accused the
government of doing little to stem the arrivals.
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