Over 4650 Saved, 28 Drown in 1 Day Trying to Reach Europe

Around 3,100 have died this year during the trip, including 28 people on Tuesday

In a single day, more than 4,650 migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast, after using the relatively calm weather to head toward the Italian coast, Italy's coast guard said Wednesday, Reuters reported.

The rescue missions, which took place on Tuesday, bring the total number of migrants to reach Italy since the start of the year to approximately 142,000. Around 3,100 have died trying to reach Europe this year, including 28 people on Tuesday.

The majority of people fleeing are from Africa, including Nigeria, Eritrea, Guinea, Gambia, Sudan, Ivory Coast and Somalia. European law states that migrants must stay in the country that they initially arrive in and Italy has been struggling to manage the growing numbers.

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