Several hundred migrants are feared to have drowned off the coast of Egypt after their boats capsized, according to the Italian president.

Sergio Mattarella said Europe needed to reflect after "yet another tragedy in the Mediterranean in which, it seems, several hundred people have died".

He did not give further details but earlier there were unconfirmed reports that up to 400 people had died after their boats capsized near the Egyptian coast on their way to Europe.

Italy's foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni told reporters he was waiting for more details on the deaths, and said Europe should not "build walls."