350 migrants arrive at Lampedusa

A boat with 320 migrants, including 35 women and 11 children, arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa today , the ANSA news agency said -- the latest in a stream of refugee landings. The group, whose origin was not specified, was taken into...

A boat with 320 migrants, including 35 women and 11 children, arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa today , the ANSA news agency said -- the latest in a stream of refugee landings.

The group, whose origin was not specified, was taken into custody by customs officials.

Thousands of people, mainly migrant workers from elsewhere in Africa or refugees from conflict in the region, have fled Libya for Lampedusa in recent months.

The island is Italy's southernmost point and a major migration hub.

The UN's refugee agency says about 24,000 refugees from conflict-torn Libya have landed on Italian shores, and at least 1,500 fugitives have died on rickety boats in desperate crossings.

In April, 250 people drowned when a boat sank off the coast of Lampedusa, and on August 1, 25 migrants were found apparently choked to death in the engine room of a boat intercepted by Italian coast guards.

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