9,000 are plucked from Med in 3 days

NEARLY 9,000 desperate migrants have been rescued from rickety vessels in the Mediterranean since Saturday, figures reveal.

In a fresh sign that the refugee crisis is spiralling out of control, thousands were plucked from dinghies and boats as their journey to a new life in Europe turned to terror.

This year has already seen record numbers of African migrants making the perilous voyage.

Italy has become the main destination for primarily sub-Saharan African and Asian migrants since the European Union struck a deal with Turkey which blocked a once-busy route to Greece.

About 72,000 migrants have arrived there by sea this year, figures from the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration show. It is a 20 per cent increase on the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the number of migrants crossing the Med to Spain has more than tripled this year, making it the fastest growing sea route into Europe. More than 3,300 migrants landed on Spanish shores in the first four months of 2017, up from

‘We reached the capacity of our ship’

1,063 in the same period last year. The short distance between Morocco and Spain – which is less than nine miles at its narrowest – means it is being re-established as an entry point.

The latest figures came as it emerged three migrants died before they could be rescued by aid workers.

A German charity said that at least 5,000 were picked up from boats in distress off the Libyan coast by emergency services, aid groups and the Italian coast guard.

Humanitarian group Jugend Rettet said: ‘Despite all efforts, three people died from a sinking rubber boat. We reached the capacity limit of our ship. Currently, all vessels are overloaded.’

Trafficking gangs are raking in billions of pounds charging migrants large sums to be smuggled across the Med in flimsy dinghies and boats.

Nearly 85,000 have arrived on the continent by sea since the start of the year, with 2,108 dying during the crossing.