'20 to 30' people dead in new migrant shipwreck: report

Citing sources from the EU mission, EUNAVFOR MED, Ansa reported that the boat had about 100 people on board.

The tragedy comes two days after five people died while trying to make the crossing to Italy.

The boat, carrying about 120 people mostly from Mali and Nigeria, overtued on Tuesday after the migrants rushed to one side on spotting a rescue ship - a frequent and often fatal mistake which has led to many similar disasters.

According to the Inteational Organization for Migration, over 1,370 migrants have lost their lives so far this year as they attempt the perilous crossing.

The latest arrivals bring the number of people rescued and transferred to Italy since the start of the year to nearly 40,000 following the rescue of more than 6,000 since Monday, according to figures collated by the UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) and the coastguard.

The overwhelming majority of those arriving in Italy so far this year have been from sub-Saharan Africa.