Ten migrants die in Mediterranean, 1,100 rescued

A group of would-be immigrants from various African countries, whom authorities said were found off the coast of Djerba after water seeped into their boat, rest at the port in Zarzis March 4, 2015. REUTERS/Stringer

ROME (Reuters) - At least 10 North African migrants died when their rubber boat overturned in the southern Mediterranean while more than a thousand more were rescued from eight other vessels over Tuesday and Wednesday, Italian and Tunisian authorities said.

The survivors were taken to ports in Italy -- part of a growing surge of people risking the dangerous journey to flee poverty, civil war in Syria, military conscription in Eritrea, anarchy in Libya and other conflict zones.