EU to triple funding for migrant search and rescue mission: Merkel

Brussels: The EU will triple the funding of its search and rescue mission in the Mediterranean to help cope with an upsurge in migrants trying to reach Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday.

"We want to act quickly and that means we are tripling the funds available to Triton," Merkel said after an emergency EU leaders summit sparked by the sinking of an overloaded migrant boat Sunday with the loss of more than 750 lives.