Migrant Boat Sinks off Lampedusa Island, Italy

Over 250 people are feared drowned after a boat carrying refugees from Libya capsizes south of Sicily.

Italian coastguards rescued around 47 migrants off the tiny island of Lampedusa on Wednesday after their boat capsized out at sea.

Officials believe up to 250 people are still missing while at least 15 people died following the accident.

The boat, which appeared to be carrying mainly Eritrean and Somali migrants, left Libya two days ago.

Rescuers picked up the survivors, including a number of women and children, after the boat sank early this morning, around 40 miles south of Lampedusa.

Fifteen bodies had been seen in the water by mid-morning but high winds and rough seas have made it difficult for coast guard boats and police to operate.

Desperate people often pay around 1,000 Euros for a place on one of the overloaded fishing vessels carrying migrants and refugees from Africa.

Thousands have braved the hazardous voyage this year after the collapse of the Tunisian regime and fighting in Libya brought down strict border checks that had previously barred the way into Europe.