More than 330 migrants rescued by Italian coast guard and other European vessels have already disembarked at Sicilian ports, Italian media reported.
At least 8 migrants have drowned and 84 have been rescued after a rubber dinghy sank off the coast of Libya, the Italian coastguard said.
Dozens of others might still be missing, the Spanish rescue charity Proactiva Open Arms said.
The German charity Sea-Watch said at least 25 people had died but numbers were still unclear. One of its boats was on the way to the scene north of Tripoli, it added.
Proactiva Open Arms said many of those rescued had spent hours in the water.
In 2017 nearly 3,000 migrants were believed to have drowned while trying to cross the Mediterranean.
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