A newborn baby and its mother are being medically evacuated by a Malta-based Italian Airforce rescue helicopter from onboard a boat carrying 84 migrants some 90 miles south of Malta.

The boat was reported by the Italian Ministry of Transport's Rescue Co-ordination Centre which alerted the AFM earlier this morning.

Those on board the boat include 20 women, and the baby born on the boat.

The boat was reported making steady speed northwards at six knots.

The Italo-Maltese flight crew was scrambled earlier this afternoon onboard an AB212 SAR-helicopter. Two merchant vessels were diverted by Malta rescue centre to render assistance as required.

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