25 persons were found dead on an immigration boat carrying some 300 people from Libya to Italy. The Italian news agency Adnbkronos said after receiving an SOS signal, two patrol boats sent by Italian Coast Guard last night reached the immigration boat about 35 miles off the coast of Lampedusa, the southern-most island of Italy. A number of 271 people, whose origin is still unknown, were found alive on board when the 15-meter-long ship was rescued, including 36 women and 21 children. Then, after the trans-shipment of the people onto patrol boats, the Coast Guard found 25 bodies at the bottom of the boat, all males and mostly young. Medical clinic on the island said asphyxiation caused the death of the 25 people. Investigations are on into the incident.