Rome, Dhu-AlQa'dah 7, 1436, Aug 22, 2015, SPA -- At least 4,000 migrants are being rescued in several large-scale operations in the central Mediterranean, Italian authorities said Saturday. According to dpa, Captain Marco Di Milla, a spokesman, told dpa that the coast guard was leading efforts to pick up "more than 3,000" people from 22 boats and dinghies that had launched distress calls from off the coast of Libya. Di Milla said 1,700 migrants had already been taken on board amid calm sea conditions, which had likely encouraged migrants to set sail from Libya after a few days of choppier Mediterranean waters. The Italian navy and customs police, as well as a Norwegian vessel part of the Triton border patrol mission, which is coordinated by the European Union, were said to be helping rescue efforts. Separately, the Italian navy said 939 migrants were picked up in other operations conducted by two of its other vessels, the Vega and the Cigala Fulgosi. --SPA 18:59 LOCAL TIME 15:59 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w