Ship Capsizes In Sicily: 200 Rescued, 4 Found Dead Near Lampedusa Island Marking Second Incident In Same Area In One Week

Ship capsizes in Sicily forcing 200 people to be rescued near Lampedusa where a ship carrying hundreds of migrants capsized on Friday, according to Maltese authorities.

At least four bodies have been discovered, though 200 people were rescued to safety from international waters off the Italian island after the ship capsizes near Sicily.

The search continues for more bodies after the ship capsizes in Sicily, according to the Armed Forces of Malta.

"We are trying to save as many people as we can," Maltese military spokesman Keith Caruana told CNN.

According to a statement released by the Armed Forces of Malta, the ship was being followed at about 4 p.m. local time by military chase planes when it "appeared unstable."

"A few minutes later, the aircraft reported that the boat had capsized and that numerous persons were in the water. Initial assistance was provided by the aircraft, which dropped a life raft in close proximity of the persons in distress," according to the statement posted on the agency's Facebook page.

A lift raft was used to help rescue many of the 200 people Friday. The Italian navy also sent helicopters and two boats to the scene, as 50 were rescued by the team thus far.

An Italian navy patrol vessel, the Libra, rescued 56 people, including nine children, the Maltese authorities said. Another 150, including 17 children, were rescued by the Maltese navy patrol vessel, P61, the Maltese military said.

This is not the first capsizing incident as there was another incident last week. A boat carrying more than 500 African migrants sank off the coast of Lampedusa, killing 309 people in what Lampedusa Mayor Giusi Nicolini called "the biggest sea tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea since World War II."