The Italian Navy and Coast Guard, assisted by French vessels, tugs and commercial ships, rescued over 5,800 migrants over the weekend.
Italian and French vessels conducted 17 separate rescue operation off Libyan coast as smugglers took advantage of calm seas to send boats packed with migrants across the Mediterranean Sea. The migrants were travelling aboard wooden and rubber boats, according to BBC. During the operations the authorities recovered 10 bodies.
Officials expect the total number of rescued migrant to rise.
In April, the European Council made a decision to triple the funding for operation Triton to prevent further loss of lives at sea.
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Naval Today Staff, Image: French Navy