DHAKA: Hundreds of migrants attempting the perilous journey across the Mediterranean are feared to have drowned after their overcrowded fishing boat capsized off Libya.

Italy’s coastguard says, reports Al Jazeera.

The boat had run into difficulty on Wednesday about 15 nautical miles off Libya and sent out a distress call, picked up by the coastguard in Catania in Sicily.

Two vessels - the MSF ship Dignity One and Irish patrol vessel Le Niamh - were immediately dispatched to the scene, but the boat capsized after the migrants all rushed to one side in anticipation of being rescued, the coastguard said.

Reports said that about 150 people were spotted in the sea.

BDST: 2047 HRS, AUG 05, 2015
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