The number of victims in last Friday's boat tragedy off Lampedusa could range anywhere between 50 and 200, according to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

He made the shocking statement this morning in comments to journalists after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the start of a three-day visit.

Migration featured in the talks after Dr Muscat referred to the boat tragedy that involved Syrian and Palestinian immigrants.

"Now that interviews with the rescued immigrants are concluded we have different versions as to how many people were on the boat. We are not in a position to say which versions are correct but from the information reaching us the number of dead people could range between 50 and 200," Dr Muscat said.

The Prime Minister said he had received no concrete feedback yet from the EU and reiterated his belief that Brussels wanted to buy more time for winter to set in,  in the hope that immigration would no longer be in the headlines.

"Such a strategy will only postpone the problem to next year," Dr Muscat said, adding he will be insisting for concrete action at next week's European council meeting.

Foreign Minister George Vella, who is accompanying the Prime Minister, said he was pushing for immigration and Libya to be put on the agenda of the next foreign affairs committee meeting.