Dozens of African migrants have reportedly drowned after a boat carrying 400 people capsized in the Mediterranean Sea.

Most of the 400 migrants aboard the boat were fleeing from Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea and had been hoping to reach Italy.

Somali media reports say that rescue workers have only managed to save 29 passengers from the waters after the shocking incident.

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Migrants pictured aboard a dinghy boat yesterday as they are approached by the SOS Mediterranee's ship Aquarius, background

Migrants are pictured disembarking the ship in Italy after being rescued from the open sea by the Aquarius

Over 400 migrants are thought to have drowned, the Somali ambassador in Egypt told BBC Arabic.

Meanwhile a boat carrying around 130 migrants from Libya was rescued by the Aquarius in the Mediterranean yesterday.

It is thought up to 27 drowned but 108 were saved and taken to Lampedusa harbor in Italy, where they received medical treatment.

Social media users have claimed that the boat had started its journey in Egypt with Italy being its intended destination, a route favoured by many smugglers.

Photographs of a handwritten list of victims names have been uploaded on to social media by several Somali speaking users.

Several of the migrants received medical attention when they reached land in Lampedusa, Italy