At least 15 people were killed when a refugee boat capsized off Lesvos. There were about 40 people on board, five of whom have been rescued so far, the authority said Thursday. 15 bodies were recovered, about 20 people are still missing.
A Greek Coast Guard ship and an Air Force helicopter rushed to rescue rescue teams struggling with high winds in the area east of Lesvos.
Second accident within 24 hours
This is the second shipwreck involving migrants in Greece within 24 hours. Authorities had previously rescued 30 migrants near the island of Kythira after their boat ran aground on a rock and sank in stormy waters. In 2015 and 2016, about a million people arrived in Greece seeking protection because of the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Since then, the number of migrants has fallen sharply due to a 2016 agreement between the EU and Turkey. Recently, however, the Greek authorities have registered a sharp increase in the number of access attempts via the islands and the border with Turkey.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
