ROME, Jan. 27 -- Hundreds of migrants are feared missing or dead following a series of shipwrecks in the central Mediterranean this month, the United Nations (UN) migration warned on Monday, describing the incidents as a major humanitarian tragedy.

Read More: Around 40 missing in Italy migrant boat shipwreck: UN

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said it was "deeply concerned" by reports of multiple boats sinking over the past 10 days, with preliminary information suggesting that hundreds of people may have disappeared at sea. The said it was still verifying details but warned that severe weather conditions had significantly hindered search and rescue efforts.

IOM spokesperson Jorge Galindo said at least three shipwreck...