VALLETTA, September 10, 2008 (AFP) - A woman died before being airlifted to Malta when a boat she was in with another 30 illegal immigrants capsized more than 70 miles (115 kilometers) from Malta, the army said.

Malta's military said the woman died before being picked by a German border patrol helicopter to be airlifted to the island. Another helicopter picked up two infants who had swallowed sea water as the boat capsiezed.

A military statement said the boat had been shadowed while moving north, but the boat capsized. The remaing 28 migrants, 20 men and eight women, were brought ashore Tuesday evening on an army patrol boat.

Malta has been hit by a new wave of migrant boat people. The latest official count said there were 2,289 migrants on 74 boats from January to August, against 1,379 for the same period last year.