Italy rescues 800 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea

Italian authorities said on Saturday that they had rescued around 800 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Italian coast guard also retrieved two dead bodies.

The coast guard used two barges, two rubber dinghies and a small boat to rescue the migrants.

The rescue mission was carried out in five separate operations.

Two Italian Navy helicopters were used to rescue seven children.

More than 20,000 persons have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Italy in the past four years alone, according to the International Organisation of Migration (IOM).

IOM: Mediterranean ‘by far world’s deadliest border’ for migrants

The high death toll makes the region one of the most dangerous for migrants worldwide, IOM added.

IOM records also show that as of 25 January this year, 4,742 persons have arrived in Europe via the Mediterranean so far this year.