More than 80 people died when a ship carrying African migrants to Italy caught fire and sank near the Sicilian island of Lampedusa. There is still no confirmed number of deaths, however, Italian sources said 83 bodies were recovered so far in the shipwreck.

According to news agency LaPresse, the health commissioner of the government to Palermo, Antonio Candela, said 159 people were rescued.  Early estimates indicate that the vessel housed "at least" 500 people and about 250 missing. The boat full of migrants capsized a short distance from the shore and caught fire about half a mile from the Island of Rabbits in front of Lampedusa. Among the victims were two children, a boy and a girl.

The mayor of the island , Giusy Nicolini , also reports that among the survivors was identified and arrested a suspected smuggler . The bodies , which are currently on the pier Favarolo in Lampedusa , will be transferred to the airport hangar .

In a sign of the scale of the tragedy, the interior minister, Angelino Alfano, canceled his appointments on Thursday and headed for Lampedusa in order to oversee rescue operations. 

Pope Francisco, who visited Lampedusa in July, quickly sent his condolences.