Four overcrowded boats carrying more than 400 refugees, most of them Somalis, have sunk in the Mediterranean while they were trying to reach Europe, a report says.

The Somali ambassador in Egypt said nearly all people on board were killed as the rickety boats capsized in the Mediterranean on Sunday, according to BBC Arabic.

Reports said the boats, carrying people from Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, were crossing Egypt to Italy.

Somali media reports said only 29 passengers were saved by rescue workers.

Europe is facing an unprecedented refugee crisis, which has escalated over the summer. The continent is now divided over how to deal with the flood of people trying to cross its borders.

According to UN estimates, 300,000 people have fled conflicts in the Middle East and Africa so far this year for a better life in Europe.