A life vest worn by one of six migrants who crossed from Turkey to Greece with an inflatable boat floats on the shore of Kos island, Greece, early Saturday, May 30, 2015.
The Italian coast guard says it has coordinated the rescue of more than 4,000 migrants off Libya's coast in 22 separate operations.
The rescues, from 13 boats and nine motorized rubber dinghies, took place Friday. The coast guard said Saturday that 17 migrants were found dead aboard one of the vessels. In all, 4,243 rescued migrants were being brought to Italian harbors.
Smugglers are reaping millions by overcrowding unseaworthy boats with migrants on Libya's Mediterranean coast to set out for Italian shores. The migrants are fleeing war, persecution or poverty in Africa, the Mideast and elsewhere.
Cargo ships and Irish and German navy vessels helped Italian military craft in Friday's rescues. Italy has demanded its European partners help more with migrants, who have been coming in huge numbers this year.
More images from this article
Afghan migrants wait outside the police station to receive temporary traveling papers at Kos island, Greece Saturday, May 30, 2015. Greece and Italy are the main points of entry into the European Union for refugees and economic migrants from the Middle East and Africa hoping to reach other European Union countries. According to government estimates, some 37,500 immigrants and asylum seekers have reached Greece illegally so far this year. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Temporarily detained migrants wait at the port at Kos island, Greece, on Friday, May 29, 2015, after they were rescued by Greek Coast Guard while they were trying to cross from Turkey to Greece on a dinghy. Greece and Italy are the main points of entry into the European Union for refugees and economic migrants from the Middle East and Africa hoping to reach the more prosperous countries of the north. About 30,000 have arrived in Greece so far this year. Financially crippled Greece has called for more help from the EU to deal with the influx.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Migrants walk near the shore of Kos island after they crossed from Turkey to Greece with a small dinghy during a windy weather early Saturday, May 30, 2015. Greece and Italy are the main points of entry into the European Union for refugees and economic migrants from the Middle East and Africa hoping to reach other European Union countries. According to government estimates, some 37,500 immigrants and asylum seekers have reached Greece illegally so far this year. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Two migrants barefoot and soaking wet walk on a shore of Kos island in front of a dinghy in which they crossed from Turkey to Greece with five others during a windy weather upon their arrival at Kos, Greece early Saturday, May 30, 2015. Greece and Italy are the main points of entry into the European Union for refugees and economic migrants from the Middle East and Africa hoping to reach other European Union countries. According to government estimates, some 37,500 immigrants and asylum seekers have reached Greece illegally so far this year. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A migrant puts on his jacket after landing on a shore of Kos island in front of a dinghy in which he crossed from Turkey to Greece with six others during a windy weather early Saturday, May 30, 2015. After they destroyed the inflatable boat the migrants left the beach barefoot and soaking wet. Greece and Italy are the main points of entry into the European Union for refugees and economic migrants from the Middle East and Africa hoping to reach other European Union countries. According to government estimates, some 37,500 immigrants and asylum seekers have reached Greece illegally so far this year. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A destroyed and abandoned dinghy in which seven migrants crossed from Turkey to Greece during a windy weather minutes ago floats near the shore of Kos island, Greece, early Saturday, May 30, 2015. Greece and Italy are the main points of entry into the European Union for refugees and economic migrants from the Middle East and Africa hoping to reach other European Union countries. According to government estimates, some 37,500 immigrants and asylum seekers have reached Greece illegally so far this year. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A small group of people gather outside tents and shelters at a makeshift camp for migrants and asylum seekers in Calais, northern France, Friday, May 29, 2015. Each night, the Calais migrants try to slip unnoticed onto trucks crossing the English Channel into England on ferries or through the Eurotunnel beneath the channel. In a cat-and-mouse game with police, they dart across highways and pray for traffic jams, when it’s easier to sneak onto slow-moving trucks.(AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
Migrants and asylum seekers gather amidst tents and shelters at a makeshift camp in Calais, northern France, Friday, May 29, 2015. Each night, the Calais migrants try to slip unnoticed onto trucks crossing the English Channel into England on ferries or through the Eurotunnel beneath the channel. In a cat-and-mouse game with police, they dart across highways and pray for traffic jams, when it’s easier to sneak onto slow-moving trucks. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
Migrants and asylum seekers gather amidst tents and shelters at a makeshift camp in Calais, northern France, Friday, May 29, 2015. Each night, the Calais migrants try to slip unnoticed onto trucks crossing the English Channel into England on ferries or through the Eurotunnel beneath the channel. In a cat-and-mouse game with police, they dart across highways and pray for traffic jams, when it’s easier to sneak onto slow-moving trucks. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
A razor-wired fence is shown above the port of Calais, northern France, Friday, May 29, 2015. Each night, the Calais migrants try to slip unnoticed onto trucks crossing the English Channel into England on ferries or through the Eurotunnel beneath the channel. In a cat-and-mouse game with police, they dart across highways and pray for traffic jams, when it’s easier to sneak onto slow-moving trucks. (AP Photo / Michel Spingler)
Tourist walk next to an migrant wearing a long sleeve shirt with a Greek flag at the old city of Kos Island on Friday, May 29, 2015. Greece and Italy are the main points of entry into the European Union for refugees and economic migrants from the Middle East and Africa hoping to reach other European Union countries. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Makbell of Erythrea sits around the fire which he use for cooking and for warmth at a makeshift camp for migrants and asylum seekers in Calais, northern France, Friday, May 29, 2015. Each night, the Calais migrants try to slip unnoticed onto trucks crossing the English Channel into England on ferries or through the Eurotunnel beneath the channel. In a cat-and-mouse game with police, they dart across highways and pray for traffic jams, when it’s easier to sneak onto slow-moving trucks. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
Makbell, left, and Tabia of Erythrea, right, sit inside their tent at a makeshift camp for migrants and asylum seekers in Calais, northern France, Friday, May 29, 2015. Each night, the Calais migrants try to slip unnoticed onto trucks crossing the English Channel into England on ferries or through the Eurotunnel beneath the channel. In a cat-and-mouse game with police, they dart across highways and pray for traffic jams, when it’s easier to sneak onto slow-moving trucks. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
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