Six illegal migrants died off the coast of Tunisia after a boat carrying 30 Tunisian nationals capsized, news agency TAP reported on Tuesday. The drowned included three women and three children and the boat capsized as it attempted to sail from Tunisia towards Italy, TAP added. Coastguard, navy and civil protection units were able to rescue 20 people, while the search continues for others, the report said. Tunisian coastguards "rescued" more than 250 migrants who were attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, the North African countrys National Guard said on Sunday. Maritime authorities "were able... to rescue 255 would-be migrants, including 170 people of various African nationalities, with the remainder Tunisians," the National Guard said in a statement on Facebook. Attempts by migrants to reach Europe from the North African coastline tend to increase in spring and summer, due to the lower risk of stormy seas. Tunisia and Libya are principal departure points and Italy a favored destination.