Boat migrant rescues surge as calm seas return to Mediterranean

Migrants disembark from the Italian Navy vessel Aviere in the Sicilian harbour of Augusta, Italy, June 10, 2016. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello

ABOARD THE TOPAZ RESPONDER (Reuters) - Ships manned by humanitarian organisations, the Italian navy and coast guard helped rescue about 4,500 boat migrants on Thursday as calm seas returned to the Mediterranean, prompting a surge in departures from North Africa.

Rescue operations were continuing, an Italian coast guard spokesman said. The corpse of a woman was taken from a large rubber boat, and the migrants were collected from a total of about 40 different vessels, he said.