Italy has issued its strongest warning yet about the danger of the Islamic State group establishing a stronghold in Libya from where it could attack Europe and destabilise neighbouring states.

Hundreds of passengers and crew braved cold temperatures and gale-force winds as they waited for nearly a day to be evacuated from a burning ferry adrift in rough seas between Italy and Albania.

Rescue crews battled gale-force winds and massive waves as they struggled to rescue hundreds of people trapped on a burning ferry adrift between Italy and Albania.