At least 59 people were killed in a crash of a migrant boat off the Greek coast on Wednesday. However, rescuers fear that the number of deaths could increase dramatically, because according to the rescued, up to 400 people would have been on board.
Patrol boats from the Coast Guard, Air Force, a Navy frigate, six freighters and other craft are deployed to search for survivors. Greek President Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou flew to the Peloponnese peninsula in the afternoon to get a sense of the situation. Four hospitals stand by to treat the injured among the rescued, it said.
Help was refused
Italian authorities informed their Greek neighbors on Tuesday about a fully manned fishing boat in the Greek search and rescue area, according to a statement from the Coast Guard. A Frontex aircraft then located the boat 47 nautical miles southwest of the Peloponnese peninsula. Both the Greek Coast Guard and passing cargo ships had repeatedly offered assistance to the passengers by radio, but this was refused.
In the early hours of the morning, the boat capsized and eventually sank, it said. According to survivors, it had departed from Tobruk in Libya and was bound for Italy.
Sailboat in distress
Also on Wednesday morning, a sailboat occupied by migrants was in distress south of Crete. Dozens of people have also been rescued there, according to the authorities.
Greece is one of the main routes for refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa to the EU. Most cross over from Turkey to the Greek islands. However, more and more people are also venturing on the longer and more dangerous crossing from Turkey via Greece to Italy. In most cases, the crossings are organized by smugglers who pay for them.
Some 72,000 refugees and migrants have already arrived in Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus this year, according to the United Nations. More than 20,000 people have died in the Central Mediterranean since 2014 while trying to reach the EU and build a better life there, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
