The Italian island of Lampedusa saw the arrival of a total of 145 migrants in just a few hours on Monday: they were the first recorded arrivals of migrants since Friday, November 17.

The majority of new arrivals hailed from sub-Saharan Africa and were rescued by authorities off the coast of Lampedusa.

First two landings between night and dawn, third in the morning

The migrants arrived in three groups. The first group of 98 people reached the island overnight.

Fifty of them – from Gambia, Senegal, Guinea and Mali – were tracked down in Cala Madonna by police. The rest, who said they were from Ivory Coast, Mali, Guinea, Senegal and Gambia, were rescued by a police boat.

All 98 people were taken to the hotspot in the Imbriacola district.

Later, 47 people were rescued by a coast guard vessel. The group – including people from Cameroon, Gambia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Mali – had departed from Sfax in Tunisia.

Alleged smuggler arrested over previous landing

Meanwhile a 46-year-old Tunisian was arrested on charges of aiding and abetting illegal immigration in connection with another landing last Tuesday (November 14).

Investigators believe the man helped 44 migrants of various nationalities reach Lampedusa. He was taken by helicopter to Agrigento, in Sicily, where he was taken into custody.