Libyan coastguards save migrants off the Libyan coast in November, 2016. (Photo: VNA)

The migrants were on two boats off the coast near Garabulli, east of Tripoli, one of which had already sunk with an unidentified cause when the coastguard arrived at the scene.

60 people tried to swim to the remaining boat and, together with 140 migrants on board, were saved. The dead, including a number of children, were brought back to Tripoli naval base.