Thousands of refugees trying to reach Europe rescued off the coast of Libya

Thousands of refugees trying to reach Europe were rescued off the coast of Libya Monday morning after their overcrowded wooden boats sent people falling into the Mediterranean.

Those rescued are believed to be Somali and Eritrean nationals fleeing Libya on around 20 small unseaworthy boats. 

The Italian Coast Guard and workers of a non-government organization came to their aid when they were spotted roughly 13 miles north of Sabratha, a coastal city in Libya.