Syrian and Egyptian migrants reach Italian coast

Published October 20th, 2013 - 12:34 GMT

Italy is calling on the EU for more assistance in order to address growing numbers of asylum seekers arriving by boat from Africa and Syria (Courtesy of CNN)

254 Syrian and Egyptian migrants landed in Italy Sunday, according to AFP.

Italian coast guard officials found the migrants, who were traveling to Europe aboard an overcrowded fishing boat from Egypt, approximately 150 nautical miles southeast of Sicily. The officials transferred and escorted the passengers to the port of Syracuse on coast guard patrol boats.

More than 500 asylum seekers from Africa and Syria en route to Europe are fears to have died in shipwreck incidents off the Italian coast earlier this month.

More than 32,000 asylum seekers have already arrived in Italy and Malta this year.

In response to growing numbers of asylum seekers, Italy has requested more EU assistance and wants EU leaders to discuss the issue at a summit meeting scheduled to be held in Brussels this week.