Hundreds Feared Dead, 24 Bodies Recovered in Boat Accident Near Libya

Italian coast guards recovered 24 bodies of the migrants whose boat capsized overnight off the northern Libyan coast, sparking fears that up to 650 of the remaining passengers may be dead as well, local media reported on Sunday.

ROME (Sputnik) — Earlier, Maltese and Italian media said 28 of the passengers on board the Europe-bound boat had been rescued.

"A survivor reported there were over 700 migrants on the boat. Scores of vessels are involved in the Italian coast guard's rescue operation," UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) spokeswoman Carlotta Sami said as quoted by the Italian daily Il Messaggero.

The publication added that the Italian Coast Guard, Maltese Navy along with other commercial vessels were mobilized in search and rescue operations in an area roughly 60 miles north of Libya and 130 miles south of the Italian island of Lampedusa.

The boat sent its first distress signal late Saturday. It is believed to have keeled over when passengers launched to its side at the sight of an approaching vessel.