At least 78 migrants dead and dozens feared missing after fishing boat sinks off Greece

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Associated Press, via PBS

At least 78 migrants dead and dozens feared missing after fishing boat sinks off Greece

World Jun 14, 2023 9:32 AM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — At least 78 people have died and dozens are feared missing off the coast of southern Greece after a fishing boat carrying migrants capsized and sank, authorities said Wednesday. ... A large search and rescue operation was launched in the area. Authorities said 104 people have been rescued so far following the nighttime incident some 75 kilometers (46 miles) southwest of Greece’s southern Peloponnese region. ... Four of the survivors were hospitalized with symptoms of hypothermia. It was unclear how many passengers might remain missing at sea after the Greek coast guard reported 78 dead.

Six coast guard vessels, a navy frigate, a military transport plane, an air force helicopter, several private vessels and a drone from the European Union border protection agency, Frontex, were taking part in the ongoing search. ... The Italy-bound boat is believed to have sailed from the Tobruk area in eastern Libya. The Italian coast guard first alerted Greek authorities and Frontex about the approaching vessel on Tuesday. ... At the southern port of Kalamata, dozens of rescued migrants were taken to sheltered areas set up by the ambulance services and the United Nations Refugee Agency to receive dry clothes and medical attention.

Libyan authorities have launched a major crackdown on migrants earlier this month across eastern Libya. Activists have said several thousand migrants, including Egyptians, Syrians, Sudanese and Pakistanis, have been detained. Libyan authorities deported many Egyptians to their home country through a land crossing point.

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Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/at-least-78-migrants-dead-and-dozens-feared-missing-after-fishing-boat-sinks-off-greece

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At least 78 people have died and dozens are feared missing off the coast of southern Greece after a fishing boat carrying migrants capsized and sank, authorities said Wednesday.

pbs.org
At least 78 migrants dead and dozens feared missing after fishing boat sinks off Greece
Authorities said 104 people have been rescued so far following the nighttime incident some 75 kilometers southwest of Greece's southern

Link to tweet

[jimfields33]

2. They need to ban this somehow.

It’d take a lot of efforts checking every boat, but 78 lives could have been saved if the practice was implemented.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Now thought to be hundreds missing

But survivors have suggested as many as 750 people may have been packed on to the boat, with reports of 100 children in the hold.
...
Authorities say their offers of aid were refused but they are facing claims of not doing enough to help.
...
In a timeline provided by the coastguard, it said that initial contact was made with the fishing boat at 14:00 (11:00 GMT) and no request for help had been made.

It said the Greek shipping ministry had made repeated contact with the boat and was told repeatedly it simply wanted to sail on to Italy. A Maltese-flagged ship provided food and water at around 18:00, and another boat provided water three hours after that, it added.

Then at around 01:40 on Wednesday someone on the boat is said to have notified the Greek coastguard that the vessel's engine had malfunctioned.

Shortly afterwards, the boat capsized, taking only ten to fifteen minutes to sink completely. A search and rescue operation was triggered but complicated by strong winds.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65901005