Italian news reports say rescue crews have discovered some 17 bodies in the hull of a migrant ship off Libya in the first reported deaths since the EU took over Mediterranean rescue operations.

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni told reporters that the boat was found some 150 miles off the Italian island of Lampedusa, 40 miles from the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

The ANSA news agency said 17 bodies were found in the hull.

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