At least 580 illegal immigrants arrived on Friday off the small Italy's southern island of Lampedusa, as well as the southern region of Calabria, Italian News Agency Adnkronos said on Friday.
The arrival of illegal immigrants prompted the mayor of Lampedusa to deploy voluntary vigilantes to make sure none of the immigrants escape from the temporary reception center.
Several vessels and rubber dinghies arrived throughout the day, carrying from 40 and up to 350 illegal immigrants, according to Adnkronos.
Early on Friday, Italian port authorities spotted a vessel carrying 350 would-be migrants when it was less than one nautical mile from arriving to land. The would-be migrants were later transferred to a temporary reception center.
Later, Italian finance police spotted a boat 60 nautical miles off the coast of Lampedusa, carrying 90 illegal immigrants, among them 15 women.
In the southern Italian region of Calabria, a boat carrying 60 would-be migrants had to be rescued by Italian authorities after the boat capsized.
Two more vessels carrying 80 would-be migrants was spotted later by Italian Coast Guard authorities 80 nautical miles south of Lampedusa.
Italy has the European Union's longest coastline -- 4,500 kilometers -- making it difficult to police and a preferred destination for migrants.
The would-be migrants usually travel aboard people smugglers' boats, typically paying thousands of dollars for their passage. Scores drown or die of dehydration, hunger and heatstroke on the perilous journey.
Lampedusa is a tiny island that is closer to Africa than the European continent and a favorite drop off point for the people smugglers.
Source: Xinhua
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