Boat mishap. Credit: Daily Mail

About 340 people have been rescued from a migrant boat that capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, Greek officials say.

Four ships, helicopters and aeroplanes are, according to a BBC report, engaged in rescue operations, a coastguard spokesman said.

Others are thought to be missing from the boat which was found in international waters, 75 nautical miles south of the Greek island of Crete.

In a separate incident, “more than 100 bodies” were recovered off the coast of Libya, the AP news agency said.

The local head of the International Organisation for Migration, Daniel Esdras told the BBC that the capsized vessel off Crete was a 25-metre boat that can typically carry at least 700 people.

Officials have said they believe the boat “left from Africa” though it is still not clear from where.

Friday’s incident is likely to deepen concerns about a new smuggling route, one that could bring more tragedies at sea, following the closure of the Balkan route from Greece to Turkey in March.

It marks the second time this week that migrants have had to be rescued in waters off the Greek coast.

An improvement in weather conditions has led to an upsurge in the numbers of boats crossing the Mediterranean.

Credit: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36443326