French President Francois Hollande called on Sunday for a meeting of EU ministers to step up rescue efforts for migrants attempting to cross the

Mediterranean, after as many as 700 were feared drowned off the

Libyan coast overnight.

“If confirmed this would be the worst disaster of recent years in the Mediterranean,” Hollande said on Canal+ television.

Some 24 bodies have so far been recovered after a fishing

boat packed with migrants capsized south of the Italian island

of Lampedusa.

Rescue and disaster prevention efforts will need “more

boats, more over flights and a much more intense battle against

people-trafficking,” Hollande said.

Foreign and interior ministers should “meet very soon” to

discuss an increased response, Hollande said, adding that he had

telephoned Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in the wake of

the tragedy.

 
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