Thirty-four refugees, migrants drown in shipwreck off Greek island
Greece’s coast guard says 34 people have drowned when a wooden sailing boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of the small islet of Kalolimnos.
The coast guard said Friday it had recovered the bodies of 16 women, 11 children and seven men, while at least 26 people had been rescued. It was unclear how many people had originally been on the boat. Coast guard vessels, a helicopter and private boats are still searching the area.
The sinking came hours after seven people – six children and one woman – drowned when another boat carrying 48 people sank off the island of Farmakonissi to the north.
Greece is the main entry point for hundreds of thousands of people seeking safety or a better life in Europe.
[AP]
