The spokesman of the Libyan Navy, Ayoub Qassim, said the coastguards saved seven illegal immigrants off Maya shores, about 30 kilometers west of Tripoli.

He added on Tuesday that the coastguards' patrols found seven immigrants (one woman and six men) from different African nationalities alive after their boat had sunk on Monday.

According to the survivors, the dinghy they were on had 170 immigrants onboard, with about 163 persons missing, including 35 women and 9 children.

"The Libyan coastguards' patrols are scouring the Libyan shores with the few and decent equipment that they have at the moment." Qassim added.