“Local residents told us about bodies on the beaches around Zliten,” spokesperson Mohamed al-Misrati said. “We discovered 25 bodies, then another four.”

Misrati did not give any further details about the nationality of the deceased, but the Tripoli authorities’ official news agency reported that they were from Africa.

The Red Crescent was expecting to recover several more bodies this Sunday, the press agency quoted Misrati as saying.

The North African country, with its 1 770km of poorly patrolled coastline, is a popular jumping off point for migrants seeking to reach Europe.

The most popular destination is the Italian island of Lampedusa, barely 300km away.