A major rescue operation is under way after a boat carrying up to 700 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, the Italian coastguard has told the BBC.
The vessel carrying "between 500 and 700 migrants" capsized at midnight local time, it said. Only 28 people have been rescued so far.
Italian ships, the Maltese Navy and commercial vessels are all involved the rescue operation off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa.
The Italian coastguard's spokesman said the operation in Libyan waters, about 130 miles (210km) off the coast of Lampedusa, was likely in the next few hours to become more focused on a search for bodies.
The Times of Malta newspaper reported that the migrants fell overboard when they rushed to draw the attention of a passing ship.
More detail as it comes in:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32371348
