Greece pursues survivor search after migrant boat sinking

Greece has continued its search and rescue operations after a fishing boat, carrying an excessive number of migrants, capsized and sank in the Ionian Sea.

The death toll from the tragic incident was revised to 78, down from the previously reported 79.

The Greek coastguard deployed two patrol boats, a helicopter, and six other vessels in the area to search the waters west of the Peloponnese peninsula, known for its depth in the Mediterranean. The rescue efforts aimed to find any remaining survivors, as the number of victims was feared to rise into the hundreds.

In response to the tragedy, Greece declared three days of mourning. The bodies recovered will be transported by a Greek navy frigate and are expected to arrive at the port of Kalamata later on Thursday.

Among the rescued individuals, 104 people have been accounted for so far. However, concerns persist that hundreds more may be missing based on survivor testimonies and the absence of women and children among those rescued.

All the survivors are men, according to the coastguard spokesperson. Government spokesman Ilias Siakantaris stated that there were unconfirmed reports suggesting that up to 750 people were on board the ill-fated boat. Siakantaris also mentioned that smugglers often lock people inside to maintain control.

A survivor, speaking to hospital doctors in Kalamata, claimed to have witnessed around a hundred children in the boat’s hold.

The coastguard spokesperson, Nikolaos Alexiou, informed state broadcaster ERT that the fishing boat was approximately 25-30 meters long, with its deck crowded with people. It is believed that the interior of the boat was similarly packed.

According to the coastguard, a surveillance plane from Europe’s Frontex agency spotted the boat on Tuesday afternoon but the passengers declined assistance. None of those on board were wearing life jackets.

Authorities indicated that the migrants likely departed from Libya and were aiming to reach Italy. The boat’s engine failed shortly before 23:00 GMT on Tuesday, leading to its capsizing in the deep waters of the Mediterranean within 10 to 15 minutes, as stated by Siakantaris.

The majority of the survivors come from Syria, Egypt, and Pakistan, as reported by the coastguard. They are temporarily housed in a port warehouse where Greek authorities can identify them and conduct interviews, including investigating potential smugglers among them.

Erasmia Roumana, a member of the UNHCR refugee agency, described the survivors’ psychological state as extremely distressing. Many of them were in shock and overwhelmed, expressing concerns for their fellow travelers, such as family members or friends. Roumana noted their strong desire to contact their families and inform them of their safe arrival.

According to AFP records dating back to 1993, this incident represents one of the deadliest migrant tragedies in Greece since June 2016 when at least 320 people were reported dead or missing in a sinking near Crete.