2023-06-14 12:34:59
The Greek coast guard announced that at least 59 people had died an immigrant They drowned early Wednesday, while authorities fear there may be more missing following the boat capsized and sank off the coast of the country.
Athens said that by midday 104 people had been rescued, but it was not clear how many people were on board before the accident.
This is the largest death toll from a shipwreck off Greece this year.
The Greek Coast Guard also reported that a plane belonging to the European Union’s Frontex border-sweeping agency and two other boats, which were not far from the location of the boat, which was on its way to Italy, located it in international waters late Tuesday, 80 km southwest of the town of Pylos. Southern Greece.
The same source added that the people on the boat refused the assistance offered by Athens late Tuesday. A few hours later, their boat capsized and sank, prompting the start of the search and rescue operation.
In the same regard, the broadcaster “ERT” said that the boat sailed from the Libyan city of Tobruk, south of the Greek island of Crete, adding that most of those on board were young men in their twenties.
But the Greek authorities did not immediately confirm their nationalities, saying only that the survivors had been taken to the town of Kalamata.
Greece is one of the main routes for refugees from the Middle East, Asia and Africa to enter the European Union.
The majority of irregular migrants cross to the Greek islands from neighboring Turkey, but an increasing number of boats are embarking on the longer and more dangerous journey from Turkey to Italy via Greece.
France 24/Archyde.com
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