A Turkish fishing vessel rescued migrants from a boat in distress in international waters off Malta on Sunday (7 June), after the overcrowded craft capsized in the central Mediterranean.
Italian coast guard teams recovered 10 bodies while search continued for others after the craft which departed from Libya capsized.
The vessel, operated by Istanbul-based Group Sagun and engaged in bluefin tuna fishing activities, spotted the boat in difficulty and brought survivors aboard the Tuncay Sagun 2.
Crew members on the Turkish fishing vessel pulled migrants from the water and provided initial assistance, including food and water, after responding to the emergency off Malta.
Crew members initially reported fatalities among those on the migrant boat, but no further details were immediately available.
Italy's coast guard later said a patrol boat had recovered the bodies of 10 people after the fishing vessel rescued 48 migrants from the capsized craft near Malta.
The coast guard said it was still searching an area approximately 52 miles, or 84 kilometres, southeast of Malta where the migrant vessel was reported to have capsized. The craft had around 60 people aboard, officials said.
Maltese authorities asked Italy's navy coast guard to dispatch a patrol boat to the area, according to the coast guard statement cited by AP.
The rescue operation therefore involved the Turkish fishing crew, Maltese authorities and Italy's coast guard as the search continued.
Officials said the migrant boat had departed from Libya with around 60 people on board, one of the main departure points for people trying to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa in small boats in the hope of reaching Europe.
The route has remained one of the most dangerous migration corridors in the region with thousands of people losing their lives each year while trying to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean, mostly due to overcrowded crafts, long distances and rapidly changing conditions.
The European Union has an agreement with the Libyan government aimed at reducing the number of migrants flowing through the country. It has given Libya 700 million euros, or $824 million, since 2015, much of it to reinforce border management.
Italy's migration policy in the central Mediterranean has long relied on cooperation with Libya to curb departures, including support, training and equipment for the Libyan coast guard to intercept migrant boats.
The Tuncay Sagun 2 later left the area to transfer the rescued migrants to Maltese authorities, according to Reuters.
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