More than 3,300 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean

More that 3,300 migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean in 26 separate operations over the weekend, by the Italian coast guard and navy ships.

3,300 migrants rescued off Libyan coasthttps://t.co/AWch2bGnXn pic.twitter.com/lmA9ONCJvA

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According to a spokes person of the Italian navy, the rescues involved migrants on 25 rubber dinghies and one boat.

The migrants were picked up in an area 55 kilometres north of the Libyan coastal town of Sabratha.

Last week, thousands of migrants were rescued off Libya, including around 5000 in one day, after a period of rough seas prevented the smugglers from launching boats from north Africa.

Most of the recently rescued migrants are believed to have come from west African countries including Ghana, Liberia and Guinea.

According to the UNHCR more than 66,000 migrants from Africa have arrived in Italy since the begining of this year.

The International Organisation of Migration (IOM) said more than 3,700 migrants died in the Mediterranean in 2015 while attempting to reach Europe.