Hundreds of migrants who were rescued after their boat capsized in the Mediterranean have arrived in Italy.

Some 367 survivors, mostly Syrians fleeing the country's civil war, were saved as ships arrived in response to a distress call sent a day after the smuggler's fishing vessel left Libya.

The vessel was estimated to have been carrying 600 migrants.

So far, 25 bodies have been recovered from the water but it is thought as many as 200 may have drowned, with the search continuing.

Irish navy vessel LÉ Niamh, which was first on the scene of Wednesday's disaster, arrived in Palermo, Italy, with the survivors, including 12 women and 13 children, as well as the dead.

Wednesday's tragedy occurred when the fishing boat flipped over as the Niamh approached, probably because desperate passengers surged to one side as they spotted the ship.

The migrant vessel, which had up to 700 people on board | Image: Irish Defence Forces

The Irish navy said that despite taking care to follow standard operating procedure, the 20m (66ft) vessel capsized.

Other rescue ships from charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and the Italian Coast Guard also went to the scene.

The MSF later tweeted a photo which showed survivors from the shipwreck being taken to safety, but said it was "still unclear how many people we have lost".

Medical personnel attend to some of those rescued | Image: Médécins Sans Frontières

A statement from the Irish Navy said: "At 8am Irish time, the LÉ Niamh was tasked by the Italian Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (MRCC) to come to the assistance of a fishing vessel 110 kilometres north-west of Tripoli with an estimated 600 persons on board."

"The LÉ Niamh arrived on scene at 11:45am and deployed two RHIBs (rigid hull inflatable boats) either side of the vessel as per standard operating procedure, however the vessel capsized."

"The LÉ Niamh immediately deployed all available assets including RHIBs and life rafts."

Spokesman for the United Nations Commission for Refugees, Federico Fossi, said as many as 100 people may have been in the hull when the boat capsized.

The fishing boat had set out from Zuwarah, close to the Tunisian border.

It is feared it could be the worst loss of life in one incident since 800 migrants died when a boat capsized in April.

More than 2,000 people trying to make the crossing from Libya to Europe have died this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

Commander Brian Fitzgerald of Naval Headquarters in Haulbowline, Co Cork told Newstalk Breakfast they do not have definite numbers on those who have died.

Médécins Sans Frontières has released video footage of yesterday's dramatic rescue: