Published : 13-01-2020
At least 12 people have drowned when a boat loaded with asylum seekers sank in the Ionian Sea, according to Greece's coast guard.
"So far 12 bodies have been recovered. The search and rescue operation continues," the coast guard said in a statement, adding that 21 people had been rescued. Three of those rescued were flown to Aktio, in western Greece, to receive medical treatment.
Authorities said the boat took on water near the island of Paxi during an apparent attempt to reach Italy.
Another 11 migrants, eight of them children, drowned off the west coast of Turkey after a boat taking them to Greece sunk in the Aegean Sea, the Turkish coast guard said late Saturday.
The coast guard said it responded to reports of screaming near the resort town of Cesme, just across from the Greek island of Chios, where refugees are crowded into unsanitary camps.
Eight of the 19 migrants aboard the small vessel swam ashore or were saved.
No information about the nationality of those on the boat was provided. Palestinian, Syrian and Iraqi migrants often make up the majority of those making the dangerous crossing to Greece.
At least 12 people have drowned when a boat loaded with asylum seekers sank in the Ionian Sea, according to Greece's coast guard.
"So far 12 bodies have been recovered. The search and rescue operation continues," the coast guard said in a statement, adding that 21 people had been rescued. Three of those rescued were flown to Aktio, in western Greece, to receive medical treatment.
Authorities said the boat took on water near the island of Paxi during an apparent attempt to reach Italy.
Another 11 migrants, eight of them children, drowned off the west coast of Turkey after a boat taking them to Greece sunk in the Aegean Sea, the Turkish coast guard said late Saturday.
The coast guard said it responded to reports of screaming near the resort town of Cesme, just across from the Greek island of Chios, where refugees are crowded into unsanitary camps.
Eight of the 19 migrants aboard the small vessel swam ashore or were saved.
No information about the nationality of those on the boat was provided. Palestinian, Syrian and Iraqi migrants often make up the majority of those making the dangerous crossing to Greece.
