A total of 55 migrants have been rescued by AFM patrol boats after being found on boats near Malta in the past 24 hours.

The first group of 28 was crammed into a five-metre boat which was located by the tugboat Minku some 45 nautical miles south of Malta on Sunday night.

The migrants - 22 men, five women and a baby - were transferred to the tug and then to an AFM patrol boat which is expected to arrive at the AFM maritime base at about 6 p.m.

The second boat, carrying 25 men and two women, was reported by the MV Sveti Jeri some 20 nautical miles south west of Malta earlier today. Since AFM assets were employed on other missions a helicopter was dispatched to confirm the sighting and the boat was eventually intercepted by a patrol boat one mile off Mgarr and escorted to Cirkewwa where the migrants were landed this afternoon.

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