The Italian navy says it rescued 261 African migrants after their boats fell into trouble on Sunday (July 6) night off the coast of Sicily.
Over the weekend, more than 2,600 migrants were saved in separate missions of Italy’s “Mare Nostrum” surge and rescue operation.
Some 63,000 migrants have reached Italy from North Africa so far this year.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has called on the European Union for more investment in “Mare Nostrum”, which costs around 9 million euros a month.