African migrants from Nigeria wait at Tripoli's Mitiga International Airport prior to being repatriated to their homeland under a voluntary repatriation program coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on March 23, 2017. (Xinhua Photo)

TRIPOLI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Libyan coastguards on Thursday rescued 23 immigrants off the coast of the capital Tripoli after their inflatable boat sank, carrying nearly 120 migrants.

Ayob Qasem, spokesman of the Libyan coastguards, said some 97 migrants are feared missing, including 15 women and children.

"The base of the boat got wrecked and the boat had sunk." Qasem revealed.

Qasem said the migrants are of African nationalities, and those rescued were taken to Tripoli naval base for medical and humanitarian assistance.

Due to the insecurity and chaos, immigrants depart from Libya though the Mediterranean towards Europe in rickety boats, many of whom drown on the way.

Thousands of immigrants have reached Italian shores this year and hundreds have drowned crossing the sea.