Greek coastal authorities have revealed that 17 migrants perished early Wednesday morning after their boat capsized and sank off the Peloponnese, while approximately 100 others were rescued.
According to the coastguard, the incident took place in Ionian Sea international seas and led to a significant rescue effort that was hampered by severe winds.
Six other boats and an army plane and helicopter that were already in the area were also part of the mission.
“Since very early Wednesday, an extensive rescue operation is underway off Pylos, after a fishing boat capsized with a large number of migrants onboard,” the coastguard said.
Those who were saved were taken to Kalamata, but four of them who were in bad condition were taken by helicopter to the hospital at the port.
The coastguard said a surveillance plane from Europe’s Frontex agency had seen the boat on Tuesday afternoon, but the people on board “refused any help.”
Later, it said that no one on board was wearing a life jacket, but it didn’t say right away where they were from.
Officials said that it looked like the refugees had left Libya and were going to Italy.
Also on Wednesday, Greece’s port police said that a ship with about 80 migrants on board that was in trouble off the coast of Crete was saved by a coastguard patrol and brought back to port.
