Italy acts to reduce migrant overcrowding on Lampedusa

ROME (AP) — Italian officials have hastily put into place measures to fight overcrowding at migrant centers after the arrival of 450 migrants on a rickety fishing boat worsened severe overcrowding on the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, triggering protests among the islanders. Meanwhile, a fire triggered an explosion Sunday on smuggling boat off of southern Italy, tossing 21 migrants into the sea and killing at least 3 of them. The twin developments were just the latest challenges in Italy’s unending struggle to handle the thousands who cross the Mediterranean Sea each year in search of a better life. The government was sending a coast guard boat Sunday night to Lampedusa take 200 migrants off the island.