Death toll from migrant shipwreck off Crete rises to five, dozens missing

The death toll from the capsising of a boat loaded with migrants off the southern coast of Crete rose to five on Saturday evening, the Greek coast guard said, adding it had rescued 39 people from the sea.

Dozens were still missing, according to witnesses, and the coastguard has launched a search operation assisted by vessels and aircraft since they were alerted about the incident on Friday night.

In separate incidents on Saturday, a Malta-flagged cargo vessel rescued 47 migrants from a boat sailing about 40 nautical miles off Gavdos, while a tanker rescued another 88 migrants some 28 nautical miles off the tiny island in Greece’s south. According to initial information, coastguard officials believe the boats left together from Libya.

Source: ekathimerini.com