At least 40 migrants have died when a boat sank off the coast of Italy, marking another tragic incident in the Mediterranean as a growing number of migrants try to open their way to the European shores.

A representative of the Save the Children, an international NGO, said Tuesday that the 40 died after their inflatable boat carrying more than 130 people capsized off the Italian coast.

“They said there were 137 people aboard an inflatable boat that deflated or exploded -- it wasn’t clear -- and that some of them fell overboard. Some said very many died, others said around 40,” said Giovanna di Benedetto.

Later reports said rescue teams took the survivors to the city of Catania in southern Italy. The Italian coast guard has yet to confirm the exact death toll, which is expected to rise.

Italian rescuers saved more than 5,800 people over the weekend, recovering at least 10 bodies off Libya, a country from which most of the migrants start their dangerous journey.

Those people rescued Tuesday were part of a group of 200 migrants who were travelling in two separate boats when their vessels capsized before the last week’s rescue operation. According to the reports, many people fell into the sea shortly before the rescue ships arrived at the scene.

More than 3,000 migrants reached the southern Italian ports Monday, including a baby girl who was born on board Bettica, the Italian navy patrol ship.

The recent surge in the number of migrants daring to cross the Mediterranean is believed to be related to the fine weather and calm sea.

A massive shipwreck disaster in late April claimed the lives of around 800 migrants, prompting urgent action from international organizations including the European Union and the United Nations.

About 170,000 migrants reportedly entered the EU region through Italy last year, most of them departing from Libya.

More than 1,700 people have died this year trying to reach the shores of Italy and other European countries, a 20-fold rise compared to the same period in 2014.

MS/HSN/SS