TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — The Libyan navy said Wednesday some 100 migrants are missing at sea and feared dead while the coast guard rescued at least 279 others off the coast of Libya.

The migrants, mostly Africans, were found on board several vessels on Tuesday. Those missing were all from a single rubber boat that capsized while at sea. Its remnants were found off the western city of Khoms, the navy said.

The other migrants were found off the city of Zawiya.

Rescue and search efforts went on for more than 12 hours despite the rough sea and limited resources, the navy said. All the survivors, including 19 women and 17 children, were taken to a naval base in the capital, Tripoli, and were later handed over to Libya's anti-migration authority.

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Earlier this week, the Libyan navy said it rescued 272 migrants on Sunday who were attempting to reach southern Europe.

The U.N. migration agency said that over 3,100 migrants died in the Mediterranean Sea in 2017.

Libya descended into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. It has since become a frequently used route to Europe for those fleeing poverty and conflict. Libyan authorities have stepped up efforts to stem the flow of migrants.

The massive flood of migrants across the Mediterranean over the past few years prompted the European Union to take measures, including training and equipping Libya's coast guard to stop boats attempting the dangerous sea crossing. Such measures brought the numbers of migrants crossing to Europe down by more than half in 2017, compared to the year before.

The U.N. agency estimates that over 171,300 migrants entered Europe in 2017, compared to a little over 363,500 in 2016.