A group of 104 migrants packed in an open dinghy was rescued this afternoon by the Phoenix, a ship belonging to the Malta-based Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS).

The rescue was made at the request of Rome Rescue Centre. A number of the migrants were dehydrated and others were suffering from petrol burns due to the fact that their clothes were wet with fuel.

The rescue, close to Lampedusa, took place as commemorations are held to mark a year since 360 asylum seekers died trying to cross the Mediterranean. The Phoenix took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at sea yesterday.

This was the second rescue this week.

Four days ago MOAS was directed to another dinghy which carried 92 migrants - 57 men, 34 women and a two-year-old girl. (See video below)

All 196 migrants were transferred to Italian authorities at sea and taken to Italy.

MOAS began operating at the end of August and has assisted in the rescue of some 2,200 migrants crossing from Libyan shores.

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