MORE than 200 migrants are feared dead after two boats sank in the Mediterranean.

A major rescue operation is underway after the vessel capsized off the coast of Libya.

1 Credit: Reuters

Five bodies have been pulled from the sea but aid workers believe there were at least a total of 240 migrants on both boats.

Laura Lanuza, of Spanish charity Proactiva Open Arms, said: "We don't think there can be any other explanation than that these dinghies would have been full of people.

"In over a year we have never seen any of these dinghies that were anything other than packed."

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She added: "It is a harsh reality check of the suffering here that is invisible in Europe."

Lanuza said the bodies recovered 15 miles off the coast of Libya were African men aged between 16 and 25.

More than 5,000 people have been rescued from the Med since Saturday.

At least 5,000 migrants drowned last year while trying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean.