Tragedy near Greek island

Dozens of migrants unaccounted for after boat capsizes

Athens: A massive search and rescue operation was under way off the Greek island of Folegandros, after a dinghy carrying migrants sank, killing at least one person, Greek authorities said.

The coastguard said it had rescued 12 people, including children. The body of one dead person was recovered.

But there were conflicting reports about exactly how many people had been on the boat, with some survivors putting the number at 32, while others said as many as 50 were on board, a coastguard official said.

Four coastguard vessels, two navy and air force helicopters, a military transport plane, five nearby ships and three private vessels were all taking part in the search and rescue operation, the coastguard said.

The operation began late on Tuesday, after the coastguard received information that a vessel carrying migrants had run into trouble and had started taking on water south of the island.

Those rescued – seven Iraqis, three Syrians and two Egyptians – were all transferred to the hospital on the island of Santorini.

Nearly one million people, mainly Syrian refugees, arrived in the EU in 2015 after crossing to Greek islands close to Turkey.

Scores of refugees and migrants have drowned in the Aegean Sea trying to make the perilous crossing.

About 8,500 asylum seekers have arrived in Greece this year, most of them through its northeastern land border with Turkey, according to data by the United Nations’ refugee agency.

Greece is one of the most popular routes into the European Union for people fleeing conflict and poverty in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Most attempt to cross in dinghies from the Turkish shore to the nearby eastern Aegean Greek islands.

But with increased patrols and allegations of summary deportations back to Turkey for those who arrive, many have been attempting lengthier routes on larger vessels. Folegandros, one of the southern islands in the Cyclades, is not along a usual route for migrant smugglers.

Other vessels have bypassed the Greek islands and headed directly from the Turkish coast to Italy. — Agencies