79 killed, hundreds missing as migrant boat sinks near Greece

At least 79 people have been killed and hundreds more are missing after a migrant boat sank 80 kilometers off the coast of Greece in the early hours of Thursday.

 

The Greek coast guard was able to save more than 100 people, although survivors claimed there were between 500-700 people on board the small boat.

 

BBC reported the ship was supposed to be moving from Libya to Italy. Initially, the ship was spotted from the helicopter of the EU border agency Frontex while patrolling over the Mediterranean Sea.

 

According to the British TV channel, the ship appeared to be overloaded and it was clear from visual inspection that no one was wearing life jackets. Representatives of the Greek Coast Guard offered help to the ship’s crew, but they refused. A few hours later, the Greek border guard received a distress call from the ship, but according to eyewitnesses, the ship sank soon after.

 

BBC said migrant boats usually avoid coming to Greece because of strict immigration policies, because if caught, migrants are immediately sent back to their home country. This was probably the reason why the ship’s crew initially refused to receive any aid, as they hoped to reach Italy.

 

It is one of the largest disasters in the Mediterranean Sea, which has killed at least dozens of people, although this number is expected to increase significantly.