Italy rescues 534 refugees, 5 bodies recovered

By Barıs Seckin

ROME

The Italian Coast Guard said it rescued Thursday over 530 refugees and recovered bodies of five others in the Channel of Sicily.

A total of 534 refugees were rescued during 11 different operations ongoing in the Mediterrenean Sea -- in the Channel of Sicily between Libya and Italy, it said.

Instability in Africa and the Middle East has seen many migrants attempting to enter Europe through Italy near Lampedusa and the Strait of Sicily.

Over the past year, hundreds of thousands have made short but perilous journeys in a bid to reach northern and western Europe in search of a better life.

Some 100,244 migrants have arrived by sea in Italy so far this year, according to the latest data issued by the International Organization for Migration on August 9.

An estimated 2,742 others have died over the same period trying to make the journey.

* Sibel Ugurlu contributed to this story from Ankara.