(VOVworld) – Authorities said Thursday that Spanish police have rescued 1,258 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea in the largest rescue operation ever in this region. 

Police rescued migrants off the Libyan coast on 18/08 (Photo: EPA/VNA)

The Spanish ship Rio Segura was on a patrol off the Libyan coast when it found a large number of migrants adrift on 11 airboats, trying to reach Europe via a dangerous route from Africa. According to the Spanish authorities, one of the boats almost sank and would have drowned the 20 people onboard if not for quick rescue efforts by the Spanish police.

Earlier this week, the Rio Segura rescued 121 migrants on 4 boats in the Alboran Sea between Libya and Spain.