At least three people have been confirmed dead after a boat carrying migrants sunk on Saturday off the coast of Beheira’s Edku city, reported Al-Ahram's Arabic website.

Border police arrested 31 of the survivors, including 13 Syrians, 15 Sudanese, two Eritreans and one Egyptian.

The three bodies were retrieved from the waters.

Thousands of people have died in the last few years as migrants and refugees attempt to reach Europe via boat. While most attempts are made from the coasts of Libya, Egypt also witnesses regular attempts.

The number of fatalities have soared in recent months, with an estimated 1,200 people dying in April alone.

International organisations have warned that the end of the Italian rescue operation Operation Mare Nostrum, which finished last year, will increase fatalities.