Dramatic rescues and deaths of migrants at sea
The Italian coast guard says some 4,000 migrants have been rescued from the Mediterranean Sea in 22 separate operations in just one day on Thursday, May 26, 2016. Three boats of migrants capsized in as many days off the coast of Libya. The U.N. estimated a death toll of 550 from one capsized wooden fishing boat, raising the total for the year to more than 2,000. More than 700, including 40 children were estimated to have died in total in the past week.
Tens of thousands of desperate migrants have been leaving the lawless coast of Libya in decrepit smuggling boats, hoping to reach the shores of Italy's southern islands. Many of the boats sink or capsize, and hundreds drown each year along the journey.
Here, migrants are seen on a capsizing boat before a rescue operation by Italian navy ships Bettica and Bergamini off the coast of Libya, in a photo released May 25, 2016.
At least one of the survivors was brought off the Bettica on a stretcher. Others with their arms wrapped in gauze walked gingerly down the ramp into Porto Empedocle off Agrigento. Rescue workers carried children down.
Drowned baby
A Sea-Watch humanitarian organization crew member holds a drowned migrant baby, during a rescue operation off the coasts of Libya, May 27, 2016.
Migrants rescued
A woman is helped by medical staff abord the Italian Navy vessel Vega at the Reggio Calabria harbor, southern Italy, May 29, 2016.
The ship carried 135 survivors rescued a day earlier.
Bodies recovered
A dead body is brought ashore from the Italian Navy vessel Vega at the Reggio Calabria harbor, southern Italy, May 29, 2016.
The Vega carried survivors along with 45 bodies recovered. An unknown number of migrants were still missing.
Migrant boat capsizes
Migrants are rescued from a capsized boat during a rescue operation by Italian navy ships Bettica and Bergamini off the coast of Libya on May 25, 2016.
A statement from the Italian navy Wednesday says the Bettica patrol ship was responding to a leaking migrant ship in distress when it flipped, sending migrants into the sea. Crews tossed life jackets to the migrants and brought some 500 to safety. Aid agencies UNHCR and Save the Children say that survivors' stories point to about a hundred people missing from the boat.
Migrant boat capsizes
Migrants from a capsized boat are rescued during a rescue operation by Italian navy ships Bettica and Bergamini off the coast of Libya on May 25, 2016.
When an Italian navy ship approached the wooden vessels, many of the migrants rushed to one side, hoping to be the first to be rescued. This caused the ship to capsize, spilling the migrants into the sea. The dramatic sequence was captured by the Italian navy in photographs.
Migrant boat capsizes
Migrants from a capsized boat are rescued during a rescue operation by Italian navy ships Bettica and Bergamini off the coast of Libya on May 25, 2016.
At least one of the survivors was brought off the Bettica on a stretcher. Others with their arms wrapped in gauze walked gingerly down the ramp into Porto Empedocle off Agrigento. Rescue workers carried children down.
Migrant boat capsizes
Migrants from a capsized boat are rescued during a rescue operation by Italian navy ships Bettica and Bergamini off the coast of Libya in a photo released May 25, 2016.
Migrant boat capsizes
Migrants are rescued from a capsized boat during a rescue operation by Italian navy ships Bettica and "Bergamini" off the coast of Libya in a photo released May 25, 2016.
Migrant boat capsizes
Migrants are seen on a capsizing boat before a rescue operation by Italian navy ships Bettica and Bergamini off the coast of Libya in a photo released May 25, 2016.
The navy said five bodies were recovered. At least one of the survivors was brought off the Bettica on a stretcher. Others with their arms wrapped in gauze walked gingerly down the ramp into Porto Empedocle off Agrigento. Rescue workers carried children down.
Migrant boat capsizes
Migrants are seen on a partially submerged boat before being rescued by Spanish freiate Reina Sofia (unseen) taking part in the European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED) off the coast of Libya on May 26, 2016.
Migrant boat capsizes
Migrants protect themselves from the cold with blankets as they wait to arrive in the port of Cagliari, Sardinia, onboard the rescue ship "Aquarius", two day after their rescue off the Libyan coasts, May 26, 2016.
The Aquarius is a former North Atlantic fisheries protection ship now used by humanitarians SOS Mediterranee and Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) which patrols to rescue migrants and refugees trying to reach Europe crossing the Mediterranean sea aboard rubber boats or old fishing boat.
Migrant boat capsizes
Bernadette Obiona and David Dibonde (L) pose with their newborn Alex aboard the rescue ship "Aquarius," on May 25, 2016, a day after a rescue operation of migrants off the Libyan coast.
Alex was born as the Aquarius headed to the Sardinian port of Cagliari with 385 migrants on board.
Migrant boat capsizes
Migrants prepare to spend the night aboard the rescue ship "Aquarius", on May 25, 2016 a day after a rescue operation of migrants off the Libyan coast.
A 21-year-old Cameroonian woman gave birth today to a little boy as the Aquarius is heading to the Sardinian port of Cagliari with 385 migrants on board. The Aquarius is a former North Atlantic fisheries protection ship now used by humanitarians SOS Mediterranee and Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) which patrols to rescue migrants and refugees trying to reach Europe crossing the Mediterranean sea aboard rubber boats or old fishing boat.