157 migrants landed last week and another four persons died at sea (File photo: AFM/Justin Gatt)
An AFM patrol boat rescued 77 migrants from a dinghy and will bring them in to Malta at around midnight, the AFM said in a statement issued this evening.
The army explained it was informed of the presence of the dinghy in Malta's Search and Rescue Region earlier today, which was then located by the AFM's King Air aircraft.
After sending a patrol boat to the dinghy, the AFM decided to transfer the 77 migrants onboard the AFM vessel since the dinghy was not in a position to continue its voyage.
Their arrival follows the rescue of three groups of migrants, totaling 157, last week. Four migrants lost their lives in last week's landings.
A total of 1,360 migrants have landed in Malta this year.