There were 2,201 migrants and
refugees at the Lampedusa hotspot on Wednesday morning, after 99
people arrived by sea in two landings on Tuesday night.
A total of 1,430 migrants and refugees were due to leave the
reception facility on Wednesday as authorities continued to work
to relieve pressure on the tiny Sicilian island.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday police were due to question the latest
migrants to arrive on Lampedusa amid suspicions that the two
boats they travelled on had been tugged by Tunisian fishing
boats into Italian waters.
The two groups, respectively of 44 and 55 people, both report
departing from Sfax, in Tunisia, and sailing conditions are said
to have been too rough for them to have made it all the way
unassisted.
In Italian waters their boats were intercepted by finance police
patrol boats and accompanied to port.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
