Another boatload of north African migrants has arrived in Italy, this time to the port of Salerno on the mainland south of Naples. Salerno was used to ease the strain on overcrowded centers receiving migrants in ports in Sicily.

The ship was reportedly carrying more than 500 migrants, including women and children, many of whom had to be carried from the vessel for medical treatment.

The Italian navy and coast guard vessels were taking more than 1,200 migrants rescued in other operations since Monday to ports across southern Italy.

Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said today that the European Union must take a collective stand to tackle migrant trafficking at its source in African countries, ahead of an emergency summit of the bloc's leaders to discuss the crisis.

Up to 900 people were feared dead after their boat sank on its way to Europe from Libya at the weekend including many women and children locked below deck, prompting calls for joint action to stop the flow of migrants fleeing war and hardship in Africa.