People jump out of a boat right before it overturns off the Libyan coast, Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The Italian navy says it has recovered 7 bodies from the overturned migrant ship off the coast of Libya. Another 500 migrants who on board were rescued safely. (Marina Militare via AP Photo)
The Associated Press
ROME (AP) - A large ship overturned Wednesday off Libya's coast with more than 500 migrants aboard, right as the Italian navy was approaching for rescue. Crews recovered seven bodies but saved more than 500 people who were thrown into the sea.
The Italian navy said its Bettica patrol ship was responding to a migrant ship in distress when it flipped. A photo of the capsized boat taken by the navy showed migrants scrambling up the side of the overturned ship, perching precariously on the exposed side as they awaited rescue, with hundreds more floating in the sea.
Crews tossed life jackets to those in the water and brought 500 to safety, the navy said in a statement.
Rescue operations off Libya's coast have increased in recent weeks amid calm seas and warm weather - conditions that encourage Libyan-based smugglers to crowd hundreds of would-be refugees onto unseaworthy boats for the trip to Europe.
People jump out of a boat right before it overturns off the Libyan coast, Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The Italian navy says it has recovered 7 bodies from the overturned migrant ship off the coast of Libya. Another 500 migrants who on board were rescued safely. (Marina Militare via AP Photo)
The Associated Press
People jump out of a boat right before it overturns off the Libyan coast, Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The Italian navy says it has recovered 7 bodies from the overturned migrant ship off the coast of Libya. Another 500 migrants who on board were rescued safely. (Marina Militare via AP Photo)
The Associated Press
An Italian Navy ship approaches an overturned boat off the Libyan coast, Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The Italian navy says it has recovered 7 bodies from the overturned migrant ship off the coast of Libya. Another 500 migrants who on board were rescued safely. (Marina Militare via AP Photo)
The Associated Press
People jump out of a boat right after overturning off the Libyan coast, Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The Italian navy says it has recovered 7 bodies from the overturned migrant ship off the coast of Libya. Another 500 migrants who on board were rescued safely. (Marina Militare via AP Photo)
The Associated Press
People are helped to board an Italian Navy ship after a boat overturned off the Libyan coast, Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The Italian navy says it has recovered 7 bodies from the overturned migrant ship off the coast of Libya. Another 500 migrants who on board were rescued safely. A statement from the Italian navy Wednesday says the Bettica patrol ship was responding to a migrant ship in distress when it flipped, sending migrants into the sea. (Marina Militare via AP Photo)
The Associated Press
An Italian Navy helicopter flies over an overturned boat off the Libyan coast, Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The Italian navy says it has recovered 7 bodies from the overturned migrant ship off the coast of Libya. Another 500 migrants who on board were rescued safely. (Marina Militare via AP Photo)
The Associated Press
People swim after jumping out of a overturning boat off the Libyan coast, Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The Italian navy says it has recovered 7 bodies from an overturned migrant ship off the coast of Libya. Another 500 migrants who on board were rescued safely. (Marina Militare via AP Photo)
The Associated Press
People swim next to an overturned boat off the Libyan coast, Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The Italian navy says it has recovered 7 bodies from an overturned migrant ship off the coast of Libya. Another 500 migrants who on board were rescued safely. A statement from the Italian navy Wednesday says the Bettica patrol ship was responding to a migrant ship in distress when it flipped, sending migrants into the sea. (Marina Militare via AP Photo)
The Associated Press