Around 30 illegal migrants have drowned when their EU-bound boats capsized off the western shores of Libya.

Libya's Coast Guard, Al-Zawia office, said 3 boats loaded with some 500 illegal migrants were intercepted and rescued off Mellitah coast while 3 other boats sank, leaving around 30 migrants, including men and women, dead.

4 bodies were recovered while the others are still missing.

The 3 rescued boats were set on fire after taking the migrants to safety, the Coast Guard said.