At least 59 refugees dead after boat sinks off Greece

Kathmandu: At least 59 people have died and more than 100 were rescued after a fishing boat carrying refugees and migrants capsized and sank off the southern coast of Greece.

The Greek coastguard said on Wednesday the vessel sank in international waters southwest of Pylos, off the Peloponnese coast. By midday, 104 were rescued, but it remained unclear how many were on board when the vessel went under, authorities said.

The coast guard said the boat en route to Italy was spotted in international waters late on Tuesday by an aircraft belonging to EU border agency Frontex and two nearby vessels, around 50 miles (80 km) southwest of the town of Pylos in southern Greece.

Four of the survivors were hospitalised in the city of Kalamata with symptoms of hypothermia. None of those rescued had safety equipment such as life jackets, the coastguard said.

Six coastguard vessels, a navy frigate, a military transport and an air force helicopter, as well as several private vessels, were taking part in the search for those missing.

Greece is one of the main routes into the European Union for refugees and migrants from the Middle east, Asia and Africa. Most cross to Greek islands from nearby Turkey, but a growing number of boats also undertake a longer, and more dangerous journey from Turkey to Italy via Greece.

THe UN data shows that about 72,000 refugees and migrants have arrived so far this year in Europe’s frontline countries Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus, with the majority landing in Italy.