European leaders are holding crisis talks on how to deal with the large numbers of migrants risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

EU member states have started committing more resources for search and rescue missions and are expected to pledge extra spending.

The summit comes after an estimated 800 people died making the crossing on Sunday – the worst capsizing on record.

Earlier, funerals for 24 of the victims were held in Malta.

The number of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa has risen sharply in recent months.

More than 35,000 are thought to have crossed from Africa to Europe this year and some 1,750 have died while attempting the journey.