Loading ...Italy declares state of emergency after 4,000 illegal immigrants fleeing Tunisia unrest land at its ports in four days
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- Accommodation centre on island of Lampedusa unable to cope with influx of people
- Coast guard forced to increase patrols as scores of tiny boats packed with immigrants head towards Italy
- One person drowned after boat capsized in Mediterranean
- Immigrants sent to holding centres in Sicily, Bari and Crotone, but most will be deported
A state of emergency has been declared by the Italian government after 4,000 illegal immigrants fleeting riot torn Tunisia arrived in the country in just four days.
Coastguard officials said that in just one 12 hour period 977 had arrived, with many more boats seen on radar screens approaching from north Africa.
The vessels carrying the illegal immigrants had all arrived on the tiny volcanic island of Lampedusa, just 60 miles from the Tunisian coast, and the lone accommodation centre was already full.
Exodus: Illegal immigrants arrive on a crowded boat from Tunisia on the Italian island of Lampedusa
Unable to cope: The small accommodation centre on Lampedusa has been overwhelmed after 4,000 immigrants arrived in just four days