An estimated 139 would-be illegal immigrants are on their way to Malta Monday after being rescued 87 miles off the Mediterranean island.

A group of 43 Somali would-be immigrants was rescued Monday off Malta, authorities on the Mediterranean island said.

Several bodies spotted floating in the sea off Malta, prompted fears Wednesday that the find signals another shipwreck involving would-be immigrants trying to reach Europe.

The exact number or nationality of the dead remains unclear as the bodies still have to be recovered from the sea, officials on the Mediterranean island said.

The European Commission is increasing pressure on the Maltese government to declare its ailing shipyards bankrupt and liquidate the state-owned company before continuing with the privatization process, The Times of Malta reported Thursday.

Two infants were flown Tuesday by helicopter to Malta's general hospital after they were rescued from a shipwreck involving would-be immigrants.

Valletta, Malta - A headline streams across The Times of Malta's online news portal: "Search is on for 70 missing migrants."

That was on August 27. There has since been no sign of the group despite an extensive search by two German helicopters and a Maltese army maritime squadron, part of the European Union's border patrol agency Frontex.

An investigation is underway in Malta after a nurse discovered the head of a mouse in her food in a hospital canteen.

Five bodies have been found off Malta so far as rescuers continue with their search following one of the worst disasters involving would-be illegal immigrants in the Mediterranean.