Italian Coastguards rescued thousands of migrants travelling in flimsy boats from Libya across the Mediterranean Sea.

The Italian Coast Guard rescued around 4,400 migrants off the Libyan coast during operations in the Mediterranean Sea, local media reported Sunday.

The operations, which were carried out from Saturday to Sunday, are thought to be the highest number of migrants rescued in single day.

Italian coastguard authorities confirmed that it had received distress calls from a total of 22 vessels, all of them overcrowded and many of them lacking basic safety equipment.

No casualties were reported during the operation.

The number of migrants trying to reach Europe by sea is on track to hit a record this year.

So far this year, more than 2,300 people have died in the attempt to reach Europe by boat, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Humanitarian groups are calling the Mediterranean migration route to Europe the world's deadliest, with migrants paying between US$700 and US$7,000 for the crossing.

The flood of people seeking haven in Europe is part of a worldwide exodus that the United Nations calls the worst refugee crisis since World War II.

Telesur