ROME, Aug 21 (Reuters) - An Italian military aircraft spotted the apparently lifeless bodies of six migrants floating in the sea off the island of Lampedusa on Tuesday, the navy said.

A boat was dispatched to recover the bodies some 60 miles from the island, but the operation could take a while because the sea was quite rough, a spokesman said.

Thousands of migrants attempt perilous sea crossings from Africa to Europe each year in crowded, flimsy boats that often do not survive the voyage.

Lampedusa, which is closer to Africa than mainland Italy, is a popular entry point for migrants in search of a better life in the European Union.

Earlier on Tuesday, the coast guard rescued 24 immigrants whose rubber dinghy had run adrift near the island.

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