Some 127 migrants rescued from fishing boat near Lampedusa

(ANSA) – Lampedusa, October 24 – Coast Guard patrol boats rescued about 127 migrants crammed on to a 15-metre-long fishing boat that was in serious distress about seven miles south of Lampedusa, authorities said Thursday.

Conditions at sea were rough, with significant winds as the migrants were transferred on to two Coast Guard vessels heading towards Lampedusa. The boat had initially been sighted by a police patrol boat involved in an international maritime border control.

It noted that the boat was in serious trouble.