VALLETTA, August 27, 2008 (AFP) - Seventy-one would-be illegal immigrants to Europe perished when their boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea, according to eight companions rescued Wednesday off Malta, the Maltese police said.

The survivors were plucked out of the water by a Maltese fishing vessel, the Madonna di Pompei, from a semi-submerged dinghy 70 kilometres (40 miles) off Malta, then transferred to a military patrol boat.

An Armed Forces of Malta Islander patrol aircraft went out to the area to look for other survivors, but none were found.