Death toll from migrant boat sinking off southwestern Greece climbs to 79

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - The death toll from the sinking of a fishing boat crammed with migrants off the coast of southwestern Greece rose to 79, local media reported on Wednesday.

At least 104 migrants were rescued, but the number of deaths is feared to rise as survivors said the vessel was carrying up to 700 migrants, mostly from Pakistan, Egypt and Syria, said Greek public broadcaster ERT.

Some of the survivors said that many women and children were among the passengers. The Greek Coast Guard noted that it is difficult to determine exactly how many migrants were on board.

Greek authorities are investigating three survivors on the suspicion of being human traffickers, who drew attention with their relaxed attitude after being rescued and brought to the city of Kalamata.

All of those rescued will be interviewed as part of a preliminary investigation to shed light on the causes of the tragedy, said ERT.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou visited the area where the rescued migrants are being managed.

Reacting to the tragedy, former Prime Minister and leader of the New Democracy Party Kyriakos Mitsotakis said “the incident highlights most dramatically the fact that the migration issue remains a problem that requires a cohesive European policy” and blamed “the despicable criminal networks that are trafficking desperate people.”

The leader of the main opposition SYRIZA party, Alexis Tsipras, said: “The moment demands that we prioritize humanity and stand by the survivors of the shipwreck, while intensifying every effort to locate those missing.”

PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis called for closer cooperation between the European Union and Greece to prevent such tragic incidents from being repeated.

A three-day period of national mourning for the victims of the shipwreck was announced by the office of Greek caretaker Prime Minister Ioannis Sarmas.