At least 10 people died after an inflatable dinghy loaded with migrants began sinking in the Mediterranean on Thursday, the Italian coastguard said.
The coastguard said on Twitter that 107 people had been rescued from the stricken vessel and 10 bodies had been recovered.
It was possible the final death toll could be higher as dinghies used by people smugglers often carry up to 140 people.
A total of 116 people were safely picked up in a separate operation in waters between Sicily and Libya on Thursday, the coastguard said.
