Migrant boat sinks off Greek coast, rescue underway

By Nathan Morley

A man has died after a sailing boat carrying refugees and migrants capsized off the southern coast of Greece.

According to the Greek Coast Guard, 47 people, including 16 women and 16 children, were found on a beach close to a small vessel which was seen submerged in shallow waters.

Over 50 people were on the boat which is believed to have departed from somewhere along the Turkish coast. An operation is currently underway to locate and rescue any survivors.

Greece has been on the front line of the migrant influx into Europe for the past eight years. In another incident on Tuesday, at least 15 migrants went missing and four were rescued after a boat sank off the coast of Tunisia.

And, last week, the Turkish Coast Guard rescued 77 migrants off the country’s western Aegean coast.