1,400 migrants rescued in Med

More than 1,400 migrants have been rescued in the Mediterranean within 24 hours, Italy's coast guard said yesterday.

The coast guard said more than 1,300 people had been rescued Wednesday from 13 makeshift boats.

At dawn yesterday, the Aquarius, a humanitarian ship chartered by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), rescued 100 others, including seven women and 41 unaccompanied minors.

Picked up 22 nautical miles (41 km) off Sabrata, the rescued migrants -- travelling with only an old compass to help them navigate and no lifejackets -- said they had set off around 10:00pm along with other people.

"Those on board tell us there are other boats needing help so the crew is searching hard and fast," MSF Sea said on Twitter.