A BOAT carrying as many as 300 migrants from Libya sank in rough seas off the Italian coast early yesterday, as rescuers, hampered by strong winds, struggled to get to them.

Survivors told the International Organisation for Migration that they swam toward the approaching coastguard vessels, but many others drowned because they could not swim, or were dragged down by fellow passengers.

The coastguard rescued 48 people and a fishing boat picked up another three, but as many as 250 more remained unaccounted for as night fell.

The coastguard is searching for survivors in what could be one of the worst tragedies since a wave of illegal migration from North Africa to Italy began in January, officials said.

Pietro Carosia, of the coastguard, said the operation was taking place about 40 miles off the coast of Lampedusa, an island closer to North Africa than mainland Italy.