Five migrants were found dead on Saturday in a boat south of Lampedusa Island in southern Italy, the ANSA news agency said.

Local coast guard found the bodies in a packed boat traveling to Italy in Libyan waters after one of the migrants sent an SOS on his satellite phone.

Most of the other 52, including women and children, were in bad health conditions, ANSA said.

Preparations have been made to accommodate the migrants in Lampedusa's emergency centers, while those seriously ill have been sent to nearby hospitals.

According to local media, the coming spring and good weather conditions raise fears for new waves of illegal immigrants from North Africa.

It was reported that 54 migrants, including four children, allegedly all Libyan nationals, have recently arrived in Lampedusa, which is located between Sicily Island and North Africa.

In 2011, some 50,000 migrants reportedly landed in the tiny island when North Africa and the Middle East fell into political uncertainties.