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| Dozens of migrants die in Italy boat sinking near Lampedusa | Dozens of migrants die in Italy boat sinking near Lampedusa |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 62 people have died after a boat carrying migrants sank off southern Italy, reports say. | At least 62 people have died after a boat carrying migrants sank off southern Italy, reports say. |
| Rescue operations are continuing and officials warn the toll may rise. | Rescue operations are continuing and officials warn the toll may rise. |
| Passengers reportedly threw themselves into the sea as the vessel got into trouble and Italian officials were quoted as saying that dozens of people were still in the water. | Passengers reportedly threw themselves into the sea as the vessel got into trouble and Italian officials were quoted as saying that dozens of people were still in the water. |
| Earlier this week, 13 migrants drowned while trying to reach the coast of Sicily. | Earlier this week, 13 migrants drowned while trying to reach the coast of Sicily. |
| There are reports that a fire broke out on board, before the boat sank. There are believed to have been around 500 people on board. | There are reports that a fire broke out on board, before the boat sank. There are believed to have been around 500 people on board. |
| More than 140 have so far been rescued. | More than 140 have so far been rescued. |
| Local media reports say that at least one child and a pregnant woman are among the dead. | Local media reports say that at least one child and a pregnant woman are among the dead. |
| At this time of year, when the Mediterranean tends to be calmer, vessels carrying migrants from Africa and the Middle East land on Italy's southern shores almost every day, the BBC's Alan Johnston reports from Rome. | |
| But often the vessels are overcrowded and are not seaworthy. Over the years many have died when their boats have sunk, our correspondent adds. | |
| The UN said almost 500 people were reported dead or missing at sea during 2012 in attempts to reach Europe. |