More than 100 bodies have been retrieved after a migrant boat found capsized off the coast of Libya on Thursday, the country's navy has told AP.

Navy spokesman Col. Ayoub Gassim said that 104 bodies had been found in waters off Zwara but warned the death toll was expected to rise as the type of boat involved usually carries up to 125 people.

He blamed Europe for "doing nothing but counting bodies" to stop the massive illegal migration from Libya.

The news comes hours after a major rescue operation was launched when another boat loaded with hundreds of people sunk off the Greek island of Crete today.

More than 300 people have been saved and at least three deaths have been confirmed in the latest incident.