1st LD Writethru: 11 dead, over 60 missing in shipwrecks off Italian coast

ROME, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Two shipwrecks occurred Monday off the Italian coasts, killing at least 11 migrants, while another 66 remain missing, the Italian authorities said.

A search and rescue operation by Italy's coast guard is ongoing in the Mediterranean as of late on Monday, hours after two migrant boats encountered problems near the Italian coasts.

A merchant ship in the area conducted the initial r