One dead and 25 missing after migrant boat sinks off Greece
Fifty-one people were rescued after a migrant boat sank near Gavdos, while strong winds hampered an ongoing search operation.
At least one person has died and 25 remain missing after a boat carrying migrants sank near Gavdos, south of Crete, the Greek coastguard said.
Fifty-one people were rescued by two boats in the area and were due to be taken to Crete, where authorities would follow prescribed procedures, according to Greece’s public broadcaster ERT News.
Survivors reportedly told authorities that 77 people were aboard when the boat sank. That figure has not been independently verified.
The search operation involved four ships, boats, Frontex aircraft and a coastguard helicopter. Strong winds were hampering efforts, while the status and identities of those missing and the deceased had not been reported.
Gavdos and Crete have become major entry points for asylum seekers travelling from North Africa. The sinking comes as Greece pursues tighter measures on sea arrivals and asylum processing, including policies concerning detention and deportation.
