International

4 migrants dead, 340 rescued in shipwreck off Greek island

Published

8 years ago

June 4, 2016

Coast guards in Greece helped rescue about 340 fleeing migrants from a sinking ship but four others who were not so lucky drowned off the island of Crete in the southern Mediterranean on Friday

Greek authorities said 340 people were rescued, but four bodies were also recovered in a location some 75 nautical miles off southern Crete, in territory which falls under Egypt’s search and rescue jurisdiction.

The death toll in the southern Mediterranean has mounted in recent weeks by migrants attempting sea crossings from North Africa to Europe this year. More than 2,000 people have died.

Greek media gave speculative accounts of the incident reporting that the vessel was carrying anything between 500 and 700 people. It was not immediately clear where the boat had sailed from.

“From some scattered accounts we have heard (from those rescued) they set off from the African coastline,” coastguard spokesman Nikos Lagkadianos told Reuters.

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