More than 1100 people escaping the turmoil in Tunisia have landed on an Italian island in rickety boats in the past two days.
They are on Lampedusa, a Sicilian island closer to Africa than mainland Italy.
The exodus has raised fears of a new, uncontrolled wave of illegal immigration from North Africa.
"Like I feared, the huge political and social crisis in countries in the Maghreb is triggering a mass escape towards Italy, especially from Tunisia," Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said on Friday.
"There is the risk of a real humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of people are arriving on the Italian coast after escaping from those countries."
Italy has asked the European Commission for help and the situation will be discussed with Tunisia's foreign minister in Rome next week.
President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia fled to Saudi Arabia on 14 January, after a popular uprising against his 23 years in power.
