IRISH NAVAL VESSEL the LE James Joyce rescued 453 migrants from a metal barge in the Mediterranean today but also recovered 16 dead bodies.
The rescue operation began at about 6.20am when the Defence Forces ship was contacted by the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.
The LE James Joyce located the metal barge about 25 nautical miles northwest of the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
All of the surviving migrants were on board the Irish vessel by 1.56pm this afternoon, but tragically during the course of the operation 16 deceased persons were also recovered.
Following that first operation, the LE James Joyce rendezvoused with an NGO vessel, Sea Watch 2, and received a further 152 migrants.
All of those on board the LE James Joyce were given food, water and medical treatment where required.
The vessel is now en route to a designated port of safety where it will transfer the 605 rescued migrants and the 16 deceased persons to Italian authorities.
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