5 die after migrant boat capsizes in Mediterranean Sea, 562 rescued

ROME, May 25 (UPI) -- Five people were killed when a fishing boat carrying almost 600 migrants from Libya capsized in the Mediterranean Sea Wednesday.

The Italian navy rescued 562 of the migrants from the water, plus the bodies of five others. As many as 23 people are still missing.

The capsizing likely happened when people on the packed deck of the boat rushed to one side to grab the attention of a passing ship. The boat rolled, then sank.

The boat sent a distress call from 18 nautical miles off the coast of Libya, which was received by Italian navy patrol vessel the Bettica. Sailors threw lifejackets to the migrants and an Italian navy helicopter dropped lifeboats. The navy vessel then went to rescue 108 more migrants in a dinghy nearby.

Almost 6,000 migrants have tried to reach European shores in the few weeks since more mild Spring weather arrived on the Mediterranean, with the span between Libya and Italy becoming the main route.