More than 630 refugees arrived in Lampedusa in one day

"You can get the impression that the migration route has changed again in recent years. For Lampedusa more than the boats with the Tunisians come units full of refugees from the Libyan coast," said the mayor, quoted by Ans' agency.

"We are concerned. We are afraid of a mass influx in the summer," Martello stressed.

The mayor also addressed Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi: "I recall that Lampedusa is the border of Europe".

The rise in refugee wave was also commented by the leader of the Italian right-wing league Matteo Salvini, who almost three years ago as head of the MMA in Giuseppe Conty's first government tightened migration policy.

Salvini tweeted: "Hundreds of illegal immigrants arrived in a few hours, this is unacceptable."

"We have written to Prime Minister Draghi and to health and home affairs ministers: we must not only control those who arrive by plane from countries of risk in connection with Covid-19 and virus variations, but also block the boat; out of respect for Italy and their sacrifices, their health and safety," he said.

"There's nothing you can do? That's not true. I have reduced the influx of refugees by 80 percent in one year and I have two trials for defending borders," Salvini stated in referring to court proceedings against him in connection with the charge of keeping migrants on ships in 2019.

"When less boats leave, fewer people die. To want to be able," Salvini wrote.

Source: PAP/MD