32 migrants dead, more than 100 rescued after fishing vessel capsizes
Greek authorities are conducting a search and rescue operation after a fishing boat carrying dozens of migrants sank off the southern coast of Greece, claiming at least 32 lives. The incident occurred around 46 miles southwest of the Peloponnese region. Authorities said that 104 people have been rescued so far, and four survivors have been hospitalized with symptoms of hypothermia. There is uncertainty as to how many passengers may still be missing at sea. The search operation includes six coast guard vessels, a navy frigate, a military transport plane, an air force helicopter, private vessels, and a drone from the European Union border protection agency.
The migrants aboard the boat were believed to have come from the Tobruk area in eastern Libya and were headed for Italy. The Italian coast guard warned Greek authorities and Frontex, the European Union’s border agency, about the approaching vessel on Tuesday. Smugglers have been increasingly using larger boats and venturing into international waters off the Greek mainland to avoid local coast guard patrols.
Sunday saw the rescue of 90 migrants on a US-flagged yacht in the area, who issued a distress call. Separate from this, a yacht carrying 81 migrants was towed to a port on the south coast of Greece’s island of Crete after another distress call was made.
FAQs:
What caused the fishing boat carrying migrants to sink?
The cause of the sinking has not been determined yet.
How many people were on the fishing boat?
There were reportedly dozens of migrants on board, and authorities have rescued 104 people so far.
What is being done to search for survivors?
Six coast guard vessels, a navy frigate, a military transport plane, an air force helicopter, private vessels, and a drone from the European Union border protection agency are taking part in the search operation.
Where did the migrants come from, and where were they headed?
The migrants are said to have come from the Tobruk area in eastern Libya and were headed for Italy.
Why are smugglers increasingly using larger boats in the area?
Smugglers are using larger boats and venturing into international waters off the Greek mainland to avoid local coast guard patrols.
Fishing vessel capsizes, leaving 32 migrants dead and over 100 rescued.
Tragedy struck off the coast of southern Greece as a fishing boat carrying dozens of migrants capsized and sank, resulting in the death of at least 32 individuals, according to authorities on Wednesday. A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched to find survivors of the incident which occurred some 46 miles southwest of Greece’s southern Peloponnese region during the night. So far, 104 people have been rescued, however, the number of missing passengers remains undetermined. Four survivors have been hospitalized due to hypothermia. The Italy-bound boat is believed to have left the Tobruk area in eastern Libya. Six coast guard vessels, a military transport plane, a navy frigate, an air force helicopter, several private vessels and a drone from the European Union border protection agency, Frontex, are all involved. In recent times, smugglers have been utilizing larger boats to sail into international waters off the Greek mainland in an attempt to evade coast guard patrols. This is the second major rescue operation in the region this week, as 90 migrants were rescued from a US-flagged yacht on Sunday, while separately on Wednesday, another yacht carrying 81 migrants was towed to a port on the south coast of Greece’s island of Crete after authorities received a distress call.