Rome [Italy], March 26: Three migrants remain missing at sea after an oil tanker picked up 139 people from an unseaworthy vessel on the way to Europe from Libya in the early hours of Monday, the Italian authorities reported.
The three fell into the water during the rescue operation, the report said. An initial search was unsuccessful.
The remaining migrants were taken by the Italian coastguard to the Italian Mediterranean island of Lampedusa. The migrants are reported to have originally come from various African countries and from Syria, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
They are reported to have paid between $3,000 and $7,000 for the trip on the 12-metre boat. These trips organized by human traffickers have frequently resulted in large loss of life.
Lampedusa, which lies between Sicily and Tunisia, has for years been at the focus of this smuggling trade.
New arrivals are held in reception centres there before being taken to the Italian mainland.
Many will be taken in future to Albania for processing under a recent agreement reached between the Italian and Albanian governments. Two reception centres and a so-called repatriation centre are set to be opened in Albania in May. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune