15 migrants die, 2700 rescued by Italy's navy

Close to 2700 migrants were rescued off the coast of Libya on Monday in their dangerous journey across the Mediterranean sea, to seek greener pastures in Europe.

The bodies of 15 others who died during the voyage were recovered.

The rescue mission was carried out by Italy’s navy coastguard, ships as well as vessels run by humanitarian groups.

The migrants were using 19 dangerously overcrowded rubber boats and 4 small boats.

The migrants are usually helped by smugglers who gain financially in the process.

Italy is witnessing Europe’s worst crisis since the second world war and Italian interior ministry officials say 93,000 people arrived in the country last month.

According to UN statistics, the migrant death toll across north Africa to Italy this year stands at one migrant for every 42 making the crossing compared to one in every 52 in 2015.