Three AFM patrol boats are on their way to Malta with 73 illegal migrants on board, raising to 183 the number of migrants rescued today.

The migrants were spotted in a boat by the Italian patrol vessel Fenice as it was heading to Malta this morning with another group of 85 migrants on board.(see earlier story).

The new arrivals raise to 237 the number of migrant arrivals in 48 hours.

Informed sources said the latest group includes three badly sunburned babies, two children and 13 women.

Earlier today a further 25 migrants were transferred to an AFM patrol craft from a trawler south of Malta. The patrol boat also recovered three corpses, including a pregnant woman.

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