A boat thought to be carrying as many as 700 migrants trying to reach Europe capsized overnight off the Libyan coast.

Officials say only 28 people have been rescued with hundreds are feared dead in the waters 193 kilometers south of of the southern Italian island of Lampedusa.

The boat is believed to have capsized when the migrants moved to one side of the vessel as a merchant ship approached.

There are reports that a number of bodies have washed ashore in Libya.

Thousands of migrants – most from war-ravaged areas of Africa and the Middle East – make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean in hopes of reaching Europe.  Before the most recent incident, humanitarian groups had estimated around 500 had died this year as a result of hunger, thirst and exposure in overcrowded and poorly-equipped vessels.

Pope Francis is calling for more international help to deal with the growing number of migrants fleeing instability in Africa.

Following his meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella Saturday, the pope said it is clear that the scope of the migrant issue requires much greater international involvement.  He also expressed his gratitude to Italy for “welcoming” the migrants who risk their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe.

On Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama and visiting Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi discussed the problem of migrants during their talks in Washington.  Renzi said Italy does not want the Mediterranean Sea to become a cemetery and has already taken a leadership role to confront that humanitarian crisis. It is also the responsibility of all counties in the region – Europe, North Africa and the Middle East – to stop human trafficking in close cooperation with the United Nations, said Prime Minister Renzi

President Obama said countries in the region need to coordinate political action to counter terrorism and prevent Libya from becoming a safe haven for terrorists.

European Union officials say the flow of migrants is likely to increase in coming months as the weather gets warmer.
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