LAMPEDUSA – The Italian coast guard has discovered an inflatable raft 100 miles off the coast of Lampedusa, officials announced Friday, rescuing some 76 people but discovering 17 bodies.

 Two of those rescued were in a critical condition, with one dying shortly after, bringing the total death toll to 18, the other meanwhile was airlifted to hospital for emergency treatment

 The deaths were believed to have been caused by dehydration and hypothermia following a journey of several days. The Italian Coast guard and navy ships answered a distress call from the vessel which had been travelling from Libya to reach the Italian island.

 In the month since the EU “Triton” rescue operation took over from the Italian-led “Mare Nostrum” scheme, the new operation has undertaken two other large-scale rescue operations, recovering 202 migrants in total. The inauguration of Triton had been plagued by fears that the operation would be underfunded in comparison to Mare Nostrum.

 Italian interior minister Angelino Alfano said, “We mourn these victims and at the same time reiterate that the most important thing is defeating these merchants of death.”