A Tunisian military ship has hit a boat carrying migrants on their way to Italy, and eight have died, the Armed Forces said, confirming earlier reports by Italian news agency ANSA.

The boat was carrying about 70 migrants, most of whom were rescued, ANSA said.

In a statement, the AFM said that in the early hours of the morning, RCC MT was informed by Tunisian counterparts that the Tunisian navy was involved in a rescue operation in a position between Tunisia and Lampedusa following a collision between a Tunisian navy vessel and a boat with migrants that had departed from Tunisia.

Following a request for assistance, RCC MT is coordinating the case and providing for search efforts together with the assistance of the Italian navy in addition to the Tunisian Navy. As of yet, the Tunisian Navy is reported to have rescued 38 persons while 8 deceased persons have been recovered.

The accident took place in the Maltese search and rescue area. The migrant boat sank soon after the collision.

ANSA reports that Maltese authorities are coordinating the rescue operation, with Italian rescue vessels on site.

Initial reports had described the Tunisian vessel as a fishing boat, but a Tunisian government spokesman later told Nova News Agency that the vessel involved was a military ship.

An AFM King Air aircraft has been sent to the area to better survey the situation.

File photo