1000+ refugees rescued in Italy waters

COLOMBO (News 1st) - It was reported that over 1,000 people were brought to safety after overcrowded boats had encountered issues in the Mediterranean sea. The Italian coastguard has confirmed that the boats were brought to safety at two Italian ports.

Three boats had been spotted in Italian waters, and a rescue operation had begun immediately to bring those aboard the swaying vessels off Italy's coasts to safety, the Italian coastguard said to foreign media. One boat was spotted south of the Calabrian city of Crotone while two more boats were discovered further south, off Roccella Ionica.

Footage from the Coastguard videos portrayed a large fishing boat violently swinging sideways with many people on deck during the night. The news comes a fortnight following the death of 76 people in a shipwreck.