4 migrants die off Chios Island of Greece

By Magda Panoutsopoulou

ATHENS (AA) - At least four people have died after the dinghy they were on board sank off the island of Chios on Tuesday.

Three children and a woman have reportedly died after their craft capsized in the southeast Aegean sea off Chios Island.

Strong winds reaching up to force 6 on the Beaufort scale (39-49 kilometers per hour, 25-31 miles per hour) are reported in the area.

According to the Greek Coast Guard, the boat carrying 27 African migrants capsized in the early hours of Tuesday. So far, 20 people have been rescued.

A major search-and-rescue operation is underway in the area with two Coast Guard patrol boats, a Super-Puma helicopter, a Hellenic Army helicopter, a NATO vessel, three fishing boats, and three ships sailing in the vicinity assisting the search.