The raft was found about 110km off the Libyan coast.

IRISH NAVAL VESSEL the LÉ Niamh has rescued 358 migrants from a wooden barge off the Libyan coast this afternoon.

The ship and its 57 crew took the migrants on board the LÉ Niamh and gave them food, water and medical help after they were found 110km north-west of Tripoli.

The migrants now on board the LÉ Niamh are made up of 314 men, 30 women and 14 children.

The Defence Forces say that conditions at the time were calm and that the rescue operation was completed at 12.30pm.

The LÉ Niamh has been on patrol in the Mediterranean since it left Ireland two weeks ago and has so far rescued a total of 827 people.

It follows a month long mission by the LÉ Eithne which was also assisting the Italian-led Mediterranean operation and rescued a total of 3,376 individuals from the sea.

Read: The Irish Navy has saved the lives of almost 600 people >

Read: LÉ Eithne crew ‘not being paid properly’ for Mediterranean mission >

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