At least 42 African refugees drowned on Wednesday after their boat capsized off the Mediterranean coast near Alexandria, Egypt, reported Associated Press. The boat, which was carrying around 600 people, was headed to Europe.

Health Ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed said they are yet to confirm the exact toll. The figure is likely to change. Alaa Osman, a local official from Beheira province, said bodies were still being pulled out from the water and added that around 150 people have been rescued so far.

According to officials, the boat was carrying Egyptian, Sudanese, Eritrean, and Somali refugees. A security official in Beheira told Reuters, "Initial information indicates that the boat sank because it was carrying more people than its limit. The boat tilted and the migrants fell into the water."

The Egyptian Army has said that it was "an illegal immigration attempt". Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said the country will do whatever it can to rescue those who are still missing. He added that those responsible for the accident will be brought to justice.

Families, on the other hand, have accused the authorities of inaction. Hassan Suleiman Daoud, a relative of one of the refugees, told AP, "We have been telling the authorities from 5.30 am [local time] that the boat is sinking, and they were saying they had no rescue boats, and no one was moving."

In June this, around 320 refugees were killed when a boat capsized off the Greek island of Crete. Hundreds had drowned after a wooden boat from Libya capsized in May last year. According to International Organisation for Migration, around 2,06,400 refugees have crossed the Mediterranean this year. Among these, more than 2,800 people have died between January and June this year.