420 immigrants land on Lampedusa

A total of 420 immigrants landed on the shores of Lampedusa, yesterday, La Sicilia.it reported.

Early yesterday morning, at about 2 a.m., a boat carrying 206 immigrants was intercepted by the Guardia costiera and the Guardia di finanza. Sometime later, a rubber dinghy with another 32 immigrants, made port. The dinghy had earlier been spotted in Maltese territorial waters. According to La Sicilia.it, the Maltese authorities were alerted, but the dinghy was not intercepted and it sailed on.

Meanwhile, another boatload of immigrants was spotted about 100 miles south of Lampedusa.

The situation at the arrival centre became somewhat chaotic due to the fact that it cannot accommodate more than 190 people. Among the immigrants were many women and children, including a woman who was in her advanced pregnancy.