Some 70 migrants are feared drowned in the waters between Malta and Tunisia while around a dozen survivors have reportedly been rescued by fishermen.
A migrant vessel sank 40 nautical miles off the coast of Sfax, south of Tunis, the state-run Tunis Afrique Presse agency reported earlier on Friday.
The UN migration agency said more than 50 people were missing, with 16 survivors. Tunis Afrique Presse reported that at least 70 people had died.
The migrants' vessel is believed to have departed from north west Libya, which is currently under the control of the UN-backed Government of National Accord.
More details to follow.