Italy rescues hundreds of migrants at sea, one found dead

Migrants wait to be rescued by Italian coastguard during a search and rescue (SAR) operation off the coast of Italy, February 22, 2022, in this screen grab taken from a handout video. Italian Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS

ROME (Reuters) - The Italian coastguard rescued 573 migrants at sea who were trying to reach Europe aboard two fishing boats in distress in bad weather, a statement said on Tuesday. One body was found.

The rescue operation took place off the southern Italian coast. Three coastguard units transferred the migrants to another vessel, which will bring them ashore at the port of Augusta in Sicily.