The island, which has been used as a destination for migrants due to its proximity to Africa, is struggling to keep up with the flow of migrants.
Migrants gather outside the operational center on the Italian island of Lampedusa on Sept. 14, 2023. The tiny Italian island of Lampedusa struggles to cope with a surge in migrant boats from North Africa as the numbers peaked at 7,000 people -- equivalent to the entire local population.
At least 120 boats reached the southern Italian shore this week alone, said Matteo Salvini, the deputy prime minister of Italy and the minister of infrastructure and transport, bringing in a total number of migrants -- including 257 minors -- that outnumbers the entire population of Italy's southernmost island.Videos shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, show areas of the island overflowing with people, with some even trying to climb walls where they are waiting to be processed.
After the mayor declared a state of emergency, much of the island mobilized to help the migrants. Churches opened their doors and residents even rescued people from the sea, newspaperThe local government of Sicily, as well as officials in Rome, said they have been working to send aid to relieve the pressure on Lampedusa and transfer migrants to the mainland.
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