VALLETTA, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) rescued 180 migrants off the coast of Malta on Monday.

The rescue carried out during the night involved two separate operations.

A patrol vessel rescued 28 migrants from a dinghy 71 miles southwest of Malta, and 152 migrants from a wooden boat southeast of Malta.

Those operations are the AFM's second and third within 24 hours.

The AFM rescued 69 migrants on Sunday.