"Altogether 73 illegal immigrants, including eight children, were rescued. Two bodies of a woman and a child were recovered," the spokesman said in a statement.
Garrabulli town is located some 55 km east of capital Tripoli.

The statement added that the boat carried more than 80 illegal immigrants, and the rest are still missing.

Libya is a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants who want to cross the Mediterranean towards Europe, due to the state of insecurity and chaos in the country.

Improved weather conditions have increased the flows towards Europe.