At least nine people were dead after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the Libyan coast, Radio France Internationale reported.

The Italian coast guard has rescued 144 people and recovered nine bodies.

A spokesman for the Italian coastguard said 5,629 people were rescued from 22 different vessels in the three days between April 10-12.

Vessels and aircraft from the Italian coast guard and navy as well as merchant ships and an Icelandic patrol boat assigned to the European Triton border protection operation were involved.