Tunis, Tunisia (CNN) -- Italy's coast guard says at least 1,623 migrants have landed on the tiny island of Lampedusa over a 24-hour period. According to a coast guard statement released Tuesday, at least seven boats believed to have taken off from Tunisia landed on the Italian island with more than 400 passengers. The rest of the people were rescued at sea by Italian maritime patrols. Sailors at the Tunisian fishing port of Zarzis said they have seen a spike in the number of boats full of migrants departing on the dangerous 16- to 24-hour journey to Lampedusa, about 100 kilometers (62 miles, or 54 nautical miles) away.
@highlight
At least 1,623 landed on the island over a 24-hour period
@highlight
Fishing port of Zarzis is about 100 kilometers from island of Lampedusa
@highlight
Italy has seen a surge of migrants since revolution overthrew Tunisian president
@highlight
Numbers expected to decrease amid forecasts of stormy weather
"They all think they'll find a better life in @placeholder, and they don't even speak Italian!"