Scores drown in fatal refugee boat mishap off Greek Island

The spate of dangerous sea crossing by desperate Asian descents especially from war-torn countries like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan seeking refuge in Europe has claimed the lives of dozens who drowned off the island of Samos with over 10 children said to be among the victims in the latest deadly boat mishap involving refugees seeking asylum.

A Greek coastguard who spoke to Al Jazeera said at least 25 people including 18 children drowned when a boat ferrying refugees capsized in the eastern Aegean Sea near Greece.

Read also: More migrant children drown off Turkey

The coast guard said the bodies of five girls, five boys, ten men and five women have been recovered. He also informed that 10 people were rescued, five of whom were found on a wooden plank, and were brought to hospital.
“The investigations are still ongoing because we do not know the exact number of people on the boat,” he told Al Jazeera.

The United Nations says that more than 46,000 people have arrived in Greece so far this year, with more than 170 people killed making the dangerous sea crossing to Europe.

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