An Irish naval ship has located and rescued over 460 migrants today
100 were found on on rubber craft 70kms north-west of Tripoli, while 367 were rescued from a wooden barge in the same area earlier.
The LE Eithne is part of several ships taking part in operations to rescue migrants trying to cross to Europe in unsafe conditions.
The Defence Forces says conditions continue to be choppy today.The operation started at 7:25am during a south-easterly one metre high swell.
All migrants in the earlier rescue were successfully taken on board by 10:09am.
A photo of the rescue released by the Defence Forces | Image: Defence Forces
The 278 men, 80 women and nine children are now receiving medical screening, food and water.
The LE Eithne departed on May 16 from County Cork to assist the Italian authorities in the humanitarian search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
The role of the Irish Naval vessel is to provide a search and rescue capability, and to undertake humanitarian rescue operations.
