(By Estera Popowska)

At least 10 migrants have died after drowning in the Mediterranean near the coast of Libya over the last two days, authorities said Sunday. According to reports,  at least 4,100 were rescued as people smugglers took advantage of calm seas to attempt the often perilous crossing to Europe's southern shores.

VOA reported on Sunday that all of those rescued were ferried to Italian ports, with some arriving on Italy's southernmost island, Lampedusa, and others taken to Sicily and Calabria.

Following the rescue of nearly 3,700 Saturday, The Italian Coast Guard reportedly said it rescued hundreds of migrants on at least 16 boats Sunday.

Italy says that mild weather and calm seas are expected to push the number of migrant arrivals to 200,000 this year, 30,000 more than in 2014. 

Following a series of shipwrecks that killed more than 1,200 people in April, European leaders at an April 23 summit agreed to strengthen the EU presence at sea, deciding to triple the previous $3.4 million-a-month funding for the operation run by its Frontex border agency (VOA)