The Ocean Viking rescue vessel, operated by SOS Mediterranee, successfully saved 438 migrants in distress in the Mediterranean over the past two days.

The rescues occurred in international waters near Libya and Tunisia. The NGO also revealed that it rescued 272 individuals from various nations on Thursday, including unaccompanied minors, babies, and people with disabilities.

Subsequently, the vessel rescued an additional 136 people from boats in distress in coordination with Italian coast guards.

🔴 Almost 10 hours of nonstop operations: The team on the #OceanViking assisted multiple boats in distress and evacuated survivors in coordination with the Italian Coast Guard between Lampedusa and Tunisia since the early morning.

438 survivors are currently onboard. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/UQ6QWaQS97

— SOS MEDITERRANEE (@SOSMedIntl) August 25, 2023

The Ocean Viking is en route to Genoa, Italy, to disembark the rescued migrants, as per Italian authorities' orders.

Migrants are attempting to traverse the Mediterranean Sea in perilous metal boats, making the journey much more hazardous. According to the UN, almost 20,000 people have died on this route since 2014.

The vessels are mass-produced and soldered together. Asylum seekers claim that as soon as they reach the open sea, they begin to take on water. The repercussions for a boat's occupants are lethal if it also loses its engine.

Tunisia has eclipsed Libya as the primary migrant departure point. The maritime journey to Italy is the world's most dangerous, with NGOs describing it as a "liquid graveyard".

Read next: Six months grim toll: Over 900 migrant bodies recovered off Tunisia