686 migrants dock in Lampedusa in biggest arrival in years

By MAURO BUCCARELLO
Associated Press

LAMPEDUSA, Sicily (AP) — A rusty and overloaded fishing boat carrying 686 migrants has arrived at an Italian island port. It’s the biggest single arrival in Italy in years, since most migrants cross the Mediterranean in smaller flimsy vessels and are rescued at sea. Italian coast guard ships escorted the boat to port at Lampedusa in Sicily late Monday. Most of those onboard were young men. Lampedusa is an island closer to Africa than the Italian mainland and is one of the main destinations for migrant smugglers. The passengers disembarked and were taken to a reception center where they were to be processed. Recently Italy began a program to vaccinate newly arrived migrants in Lampedusa against COVID-19.