Three dead, 56 rescued as boat capsizes off Greek island
Athens, Nov 12
Three people have died and 56 others were rescued after a migrant boat capsized off the southern Greek island of Gavdos, according to the state broadcaster.
The Hellenic Coast Guard on Tuesday (local time) said a large-scale search and rescue operation was continuing in rough weather conditions to locate possible missing persons. Survivors were unable to confirm how many people had been on board when the vessel sank, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting the state broadcaster ERT.
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) is assisting Greek authorities in the ongoing operation. The nationalities of the victims and survivors have not yet been confirmed.
Gavdos, located south of the island of Crete, lies near routes often used by migrants attempting to reach Europe from North Africa. Greece has been one of the main entry points for irregular migrants and refugees into the European Union since 2015, when more than 1 million people crossed its borders, mainly from Turkey.
Over the years, hundreds have lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea while trying to reach Europe in unseaworthy boats, prompting repeated calls from humanitarian organisations for stronger rescue coordination and safer migration routes.
A day earlier, four people died after a migrant boat sank off the Greek island of Lesvos.
Another seven migrants were rescued, the Greek coast guard said. A search and rescue operation was ongoing, despite being hindered by strong winds reaching force six on the Beaufort scale.
The exact number of people on board at the time of the incident remains unclear, as the survivors -- all Sudanese nationals -- do not speak English, making communication difficult.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Another tragic incident in the Mediterranean. While I sympathize with the victims, countries like Greece are facing immense pressure. We in India understand border challenges, but Europe needs a coordinated policy to handle migration humanely.
The rescue teams are doing heroic work in such rough weather conditions. Force six winds are no joke! But why are people still forced to take such dangerous routes? The root causes of migration need to be addressed.
This happens too often. While I appreciate the rescue efforts, I think European countries could do more to prevent these tragedies. Proper legal pathways and better coordination between nations would save so many lives.
The communication barrier mentioned in the article is a serious issue. When survivors don't speak English, it becomes harder to account for everyone. Maybe they should have translators available for common migrant languages.
Two incidents in two days? This is alarming. The international community needs to step up. These are human beings, not statistics. My heart goes out to the families who have lost their loved ones in these dangerous journeys.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.