ABOARD THE ASTRAL, MEDITERRANEAN SEA — A Spanish aid group rescued more than 100 migrants Thursday from three separate migrant boats off Libya’s coast and recovered at least four bodies after one of the vessels sank. Relatives reported another two people drowned but rough seas hampered search efforts.
The Associated Press was aboard the Astral rescue ship of the group Proactiva Open Arms when a Libyan fisherman flagged the sunken migrant boat some 20 miles north of the western Libyan city of Sabratha.
The 11-member Astral crew sent out two dinghies to pull survivors from the sea, some of whom were in shock from being in the water for too long. As the survivors were being brought aboard, two wooden migrant ships approached the Astral seeking help.
All the survivors were transferred to Italian navy vessels who are coordinating the EU’s Mediterranean rescue operation. Those rescued by the Astral were among 534 migrants rescued Thursday in 11 different operations, according to the Italian coast guard.