Tragedy in Greece: at least 59 migrants die and more than 100 are rescued after shipwreck

at least 59 migrants lost their lives this Wednesday when a fishing boat sank with hundreds of people on board in the Ionian Seaconfirmed to EFE a spokeswoman for the Greek Coast Guardwho warned that “The number of deaths will probably increase further.”.

So far, 106 people have been rescued alive, four of them have been transferred with hypothermia by helicopter to the hospital in the city of kalamataabout 250 kilometers southwest of Athens.

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According to the local press, the Greek president, Ekaterini Sakellaropoulouhe went to Kalamata to find out about what happened.

According to local media, at least 400 immigrants, of nationalities not yet determined, were on board the 30-meter-long vessel.

Medics carry a survivor on a stretcher after a boat carrying dozens of migrants sank in international waters in the Ionian Sea port city of Kalamata on June 14, 2023. (Photo by STRINGER/Eurokinissi / AFP) (STRINGER /)

Ten boats, a Navy frigate, a helicopter and a Frontex drone, the border agency of the European Union (EU), participate in search and rescue operations.

The boat left from the east of Libya and had as final destination Italyand sank this morning southwest of the Peloponnese peninsula after overturning, authorities reported.

The fishing vessel had been located yesterday at noon sailing in international waters south of the Greek peninsula, according to a statement issued by the Coast Guard.

In the afternoon, a coast guard vessel approached to offer assistance, having spotted a large number of people on the outer deck of the ship.

According to the statement, those who were on board denied the help and expressed that they wanted to continue on their way to Italy.

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A few hours after the incident, the coastguard rescued the south of the Island of crete another 80 migrants who were on a drifting sailboat.

Human smuggling networks have been using large vessels, such as sailboats and fishing boats, for years to make their way from Türkiye o Libya to the south of mainland Italy, from where migrants and refugees have easier access to the countries of Central Europe.

Last Sunday, the Greek authorities rescued in the southern Peloponnese 90 migrants They were aboard a ship that was adrift.

Source: Elcomercio