CAIRO: The Egyptian navy has picked up 91 would-be illegal immigrants headed from Egypt to Italy after their boat broke down on the high seas, the local press reported on Wednesday.
The hungry and thirsty men were rescued off the coast of Cyprus on Tuesday having drifted for four days and were returned to Egypt by the navy after the owner of the fishing boat they were traveling in sent out an SOS.
Italy faces a constant influx of mostly North African immigrants who risk their lives trying to reach Europe, often in small boats.
Italian coastguards said earlier this week they had picked up 7,010 illegal immigrants alive from the sea since the start of the year.
