The Italian coastguard said on Thursday (September 26) it had rescued more than 1800 migrants from different areas off Italy's coastline in the last 24 hours.

In video released shortly after a rescue at sea, a coastguard vessel carrying some 96 mainly men of African origin was seen to dock at the island port of Lampedusa.

On Thursday morning another video showed some 29 women and 30 children being helped from another boat at Lampedusa port. Some of the migrants could have been of Syrian descent, officials said.

Other rescues have also been made along the Sicilian coastline.

In the past 12 months, more than 24,000 have come, compared with more than 17,000 in the same period a year earlier, and almost 25,000 in the 12 months before that, according to the Interior Ministry.

Presented by Adam Justice