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Image: A child from African origin is rescued from a distressed vessel by a member of Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the mediteranean

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Massive Rescues Off Libya Coast Save Over 10,000 Migrants

More than 10,000 migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast over the past 48 hours and several bodies recovered.

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Image: Migrants gesture towards members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO

Migrants gesture towards members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO as they wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean sea, some 12 nautical miles north of Libya, on Oct. 4, 2016.

Thousands of migrants are "racing against the clock" to make the perilous crossing from Libya to Europe before summer ends, with authorities in the conflict-torn country at a loss to stem the flow. 

— ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images
Image: Migrants wait to be rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO

Migrants wait to be rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO as they drift in the Mediterranean sea.

— ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images
Image: Migrants wait to be rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO

Migrants wait to be rescued. The coast guard said the migrants Tuesday were rescued from 33 boats, including 27 rubber dinghies.

— ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images
Image: Migrants try to pull a child out of the water as they wait to be rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO

Migrants try to pull a child out of the water as they wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean sea.

— ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images
Image: A migrant is rescued from the mediteranean sea by a member of Proactiva Open Arms NGO

A migrant is rescued from the Mediterranean sea by a member of Proactiva Open Arms NGO.

Some 13 ships from the coast guard, the Italian and Irish navies, private merchant vessels and humanitarian organizations were involved in the rescues.

— ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images
Image: Migrants react as they are being rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO

Migrants react as they are being rescued.

— ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images
Image: A mother holds her child after migrants were rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO

A mother holds her child after being rescued.

The latest surge in new arrivals means at least 142,000 migrants have reached Italy since the start of the year and around 3,100 have died making the perilous trip.

— ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images
Image: A child from African origin is rescued from a distressed vessel by a member of Proactiva Open Arms NGO

A child from African origin is rescued from a distressed vessel.

— ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images
Image: A woman has fainted after being rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO

A woman has fainted after being rescued.

— ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images
Image: Migrants wait to be rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO

Migrants wait to be rescued.

The majority come from Africa, including Nigeria, Eritrea, Guinea, Gambia, Sudan, Ivory Coast and Somalia.

 

— ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images
Image: Migrants wait to be rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO

Migrants wait to be rescued.

— ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images
Image: Migrants wait to be rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO

Migrants wait to be rescued.

— ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images
Image: Two women stand on a boat as they wait with other refugees and migrants to be rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO

Two women stand on a boat as they wait with other refugees and migrants to be rescued.

The migrants are brought to Italy, where EU and Italian officials work together to identify and fingerprint the asylum seekers. European law says migrants must stay in the country where they first enter the bloc and Italy is increasingly struggling to deal with the growing numbers.

— ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images
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