At least seven people are dead and dozens missing after a boat carrying 70 people sank on a major river in northern Brazil, authorities said.

A boat carrying 120 illegal immigrants bound for Italy sank just south of the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, killing at least 10 people, Italian news agencies said today.

A boat believed to be carrying some 100 illegal immigrants trying to enter Italy sank off the coast of Sicily early this morning, according to an Italian news agency.