TRIPOLI: A boat carrying over 250 migrants capsized off the Libyan coast near the capital Tripoli, a coast guard official said Saturday.

Abdel Latif Mohammed said that 16 people had been rescued since the coast guard was alerted to the incident late Friday. The body of an 18-month-old child was pulled from the water as rescue operations continued off the shores of Al-Qarbouli, 50 kilometers east of the capital Tripoli.

The coast guard has not yet confirmed the number of deaths, but estimated the sinking boat carried at least 250 people, he added.

The migrants, mostly African nationals, were heading to Europe on a perilous journey that kills scores of people every year.

Libya has grown increasingly lawless since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moammar Qadhafi, making it a migration hub for sub-Saharan Africans.

Migrants have been streaming out of North Africa in rickety boats in rising numbers for years. So far in 2014, the total number reaching Italian shores has passed 100,000, the Italian government said this week.

Italy has borne the brunt of patrolling the Mediterranean Sea to help prevent major tragedies involving migrants. More than 70,000 people have been rescued through the “Mare Nostrum” (Our Sea) mission of patrols which Italy began last October.