More than 250 migrants rescued from an overcrowded wooden boat in the Mediterranean have been finally allowed to disembark in Sicily, after nearly a week on a rescue boat.

The group, which included children, were rescued by the German NGO rescue ship Sea-Watch 3 on August 1.

They had tried to cross the Mediterranean on a wooden vessel carrying 394 people. The Sea-Watch 3, with the help of another boat run by the French NGO SOS Mediterranee, spent six hours rescuing them.  

The German ship took 257 people on board, while the French boat took the rest. 

The crew on the German ship said they were facing a "critical" situation on Thursday, and they added that some of the rescued migrants were showing signs of dehydration.

They were eventually given permission to dock in Italy. 

The rescued migrants took COVID-19 tests when the boat docked at the port of Trapani. They are now on a quarantine ship where they will stay for the next two weeks.

The other French boat, the Ocean Viking, will be allowed to dock on Sunday. It is now carrying 549 passengers, including 118 minors.