More than 30 migrants, most of them toddlers, were reported to have drowned on Wednesday after the boat carrying them from the coast of Libya listed and flung them into the sea.

Several EU and commercial vessels were involved in a frantic effort to rescue survivors as they struggled to stay afloat.

The trafficking boat was carrying around 500 migrants when it suddenly tilted to one side, pitching about 200 people into the water. Rescuers said "most are toddlers".