( CNN ) Desperate migrants from Africa and the Middle East keep heading to Europe , with 978 rescued Friday in the Mediterranean Sea , the Italian Coast Guard said Saturday via Twitter . The migrants were picked up 30 miles off the coast of Libya , said European Parliament member Matteo Salvini , the leader of Italy 's far-right Northern League . In the first three months of 2015 , Italy registered more than 10,000 migrants arriving , the International Organization for Migration said , and about 2,000 were rescued at sea during the first weekend of April in the Channel of Sicily . Most migrants recorded this year come from countries in West Africa as well as Somalia and Syria , the IMO said . They use Libya as a country of transit . At least 480 migrants have died while crossing the Mediterranean since the beginning of the year , often because of bad weather and overcrowded vessels used by smugglers , the IMO said . Sometimes the captains and crews abandon the ships , leaving passengers to fend for themselves . At this time last year , there were fewer than 50 deaths reported , the IMO said . Most of the migrants are asylum seekers , victims of trafficking or violence , unaccompanied children and pregnant women .
The migrants were picked up 30 miles off the coast of Libya , an Italian leader says . Comment: