mediterranean sea
"It is a tragic start to the new year," one migration official said.
Displaced people use camera phone footage to highlight life on the run in "Exodus."
Rescuers are feeling powerless in the face of mounting challenges.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
The migrants were packed on board dozens of boats, many of them rubber dinghies that become dangerously unstable in high seas.
A big, fat Greek wedding, anyone? ✈️
Some 500 people were saved in three rescue missions on Tuesday.
Nearly 3,000 men, women and children have died crossing the Mediterranean Sea already in 2016 -- the deadliest six months ever recorded.
Users can monitor sections of the sea route on their phone, and alert authorities if they spot trouble.
A French vessel picked up underwater pings from one of the black boxes.