Valletta, Malta - Two corpses were located Tuesday in the sea off Malta - a find which together with the recovery of several life-jackets could indicate a shipwreck involving would-be immigrants, authorities said.

The Maltese military said the first body, which was not wearing a life-jacket, was spotted by a ship 42 nautical miles west of Malta.

A military patrol aircraft later discovered the other corpse, together with 10 life-jackets, floating some 53 nautical miles south of the Mediterranean island.

The identity or nationality of the two dead people could not be immediately determined.

Earlier this month, the recovery of another three corpses - believed to belong to people of African origin - also raised concern of a possible shipwreck involving would-be immigrants.

Recent fine weather in the Mediterranean has prompted hundreds of Africans, many fleeing poverty and other hardships at home, to attempt sea-crossings to reach the shores of Europe.

Similar journeys are undertaken every year, often in ramshackle vessels which can capsize with fatal results.

Malta, which has been grappling with the problem of illegal immigration for more than a decade, has renewed appeals to other European Union member states for assistance. (dpa)