least thirty people were found off the southeastern Italian coast early on Sunday after the boat they were in broke up off the coast, Italian state radio reported.

Italian police and Carabinieri arrived at the scene in the city of Cutro, in Croton, the Italian ANSA news agency reported. Some 118 Red Cross personnel were also there.

The ship was believed to be carrying over 100 migrants when it ran into trouble in the Ionian sea at dawn, the Italian RAI state radio reported, quoting unidentified port authorities.

The retrieved bodies included that of a few-months-old baby.

Some 50 people were rescued, while authorities continued to search for other survivors, the Italian Adnkronos news agency said. The boat was believed to be carrying migrants from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Adnkronos added.

Italy and Spain often complain that they take in the biggest number of those trying to cross the Mediterranean in search of a better life, as their shores are usually closest to the boats rescued by NGOs.