( CNN ) -- Italian authorities on Thursday rescued more than 800 migrants from four boats trying to reach the island of Lampedusa , the Italian navy said . As the closest Italian island to Africa , Lampedusa , in the Mediterranean Sea , is a frequent destination for refugees seeking to enter European Union countries , and shipwrecks off its shores are common . Navy and air force helicopters spotted the four boats , which `` appeared in precarious floating conditions and overcrowded , '' the navy said in a statement . The migrants were being transferred to a Navy ship and will be brought to the port of Augusta in Sicily . They were from Africa and countries such as Egypt , Pakistan and Iraq . A day earlier , more than 200 migrants were rescued from the sea and also taken to the port of Augusta . More than 300 African migrants died in October after their ship sank off the island 's shores . Days later , another 34 people died when their boat capsized .
four migrants have been rescued south of Iraq . The migrants were in More than 800 boats trying to reach the Italian island . four others were rescued A day earlier .