A total of 730 migrants were rescued from six boats in the Strait of Sicily on Sunday (March 27) the Italian navy said, releasing a video of one of the rescue operations.

The footage released by the navy showed a large number of migrants travelling on a crammed rubber dinghy being approached by officers and being provided with life vests.

The rescue operations were carried out by the Italian navy and coast guard. Among the 730 people rescued were 118 women and four children, the coast guard said in a statement.

All of the rescued migrants were transferred onto the Norwegian rescue vessel Siem Pilot, which operates in the Mediterranean as part of the European Union's border patrol operation "Triton".

The migrants are expected to be taken to port in Sicily on Tuesday (March 29).