Over 153 migrants from North Africa reach safety in Italy Saturday after their rafts almost sink.
They called the Italian Coast Guard in Rome via satellite phone — who diverted a Danish merchant ship to come to their aid about 30 miles north of the coast of Libya.
A breakdown in order in Libya has made it impossible to stop the traffickers packing people onto rickety boats for the dangerous trip across the Mediterranean.
Almost 500 people have died or disappeared in the Mediterranean so far this year.
(Ventuno)