More than 80 rescued migrants currently stranded aboard the Norwegian-flagged Ocean Viking will be relocated to various European Union countries, Italian premier Giuseppe Conte's office said in a statement on Thursday.
"There has been a strong response to the redistribution mechanism activated by Italy in the past few hours," said the statement.
"A number of EU states have signed up, allowing a suitable and prompt solution to be found."
The Ocean Viking, operated by the French charities SOS Mediterranée and Doctors Without Borders, has saved a total of 84 people since Sunday, and has been awaiting a safe port.
