The LÉ Eithne has rescued 647 migrants from two vessels in the Mediterranean today.

Rescue operations commenced at 8.30am this morning.

330 migrants were picked up on a wooden barge, 50 Nautical Miles north-west of Tripoli. 

Immediately following the first operation, a further 317 migrants were rescued on another barge close by. 

Altogether there are now 544 males, 95 females and 8 children rescuees on board the vessel. 

It follows operations yesterday in which almost 500 migrants were rescued by the LÉ Eithne. Excluding today's operations, 2729 people have been rescued in total since the ship was deployed from Cork in May. 

Almost 2,000 people have drowned in the waters of the Mediterranean between Africa and Europe so far this year, as they attempted to flee war-torn countries.