Italian coast guards rescue 246 migrants

Even though many lives continue to be lost at sea, thousands continue to cross the Mediterranean to Europe in search of greener pastures.

Footage released on Wednesday by the Italian coast guards showed a large number of migrants on the deck of a wooden boat which had Arabic writing on its sides. Officers could be seen carrying a small baby from the boat.

The migrants said to be 246 were transferred onto a coast guard vessel to be taken to shore.

The coastguards said during the journey, one of the migrants required urgent medical care and a rescue helicopter was dispatched to transport the migrant to land.

Host countries say everyday happenings and horrid stories of survivors should be deterrents, but thousands of Africans continue to take that route in pursuit for a better life.

AFP