At least five people have been confirmed dead and dozens are feared missing after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Gavdos, a small island south of Crete, on Friday night.
Greek authorities reported that 39 survivors were rescued from the wreck, and a large-scale search operation is underway to find other potential survivors.
The boat sank about 12 nautical miles southwest of Crete, with 40 people believed to be missing, according to ERTNEWS. The incident occurred shortly after midnight, prompting a major rescue effort involving ships and aircraft in the waters south of Gavdos.
The first body was discovered early Saturday morning. Local media also reported that a man was airlifted to a hospital in Chania, Crete, and admitted to intensive care. By Saturday afternoon, the coastguard confirmed that the death toll had risen to five.
Greece has experienced a 25-percent rise in migrant arrivals this year, with a notable 30-percent increase in the southeast Aegean and the island of Rhodes, according to the migration ministry.
This tragic incident adds to a series of similar accidents in recent weeks. In late November, eight migrants—six of them minors—died near the island of Samos, a known route for human traffickers.
