Malta-based rescue mission Moas yesterday rescued 561 migrants in its biggest single operation.

The migrants were picked up by its vessel Phoenix off Libya, where 11 rescue missions were underway throughout the day, coordinated by the Rescue Coordination Centre in Rome.

In all, about 2,220 migrants were picked up by the Lampedusa coastguard, the Italian Navy, Guardia di Finanza, the German vessel Hessen, the Phoenix and a merchant ship. The rescued migrants were all taken to Italy. Of the migrants rescued by Moas, 136 were women and 60 were infants. Some of those it picked up from boats were transferred to other vessels because of the vessel’s limited space.

The Phoenix, which started its current mission at the beginning of May, was meant to return to Malta today. However it stayed out at sea because of yesterday’s emergency.

On Wednesday, the boat also transferred 188 migrants to Britain’s HMS Bulwark. So far this year, it is estimated that some 1,750 migrants have perished in the Mediterranean.

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