Death toll of migrant boat sinking off Greece climbs to 80, with hundreds still unaccounted for

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – The confirmed death toll of last week’s shipwreck off southwestern Greece climbed to 80 even as hundreds more migrants are feared drowned, said local media on Monday.

The bodies of two male migrants were recovered in an area close to the sinking, said public broadcaster ERT, adding that search operations are still underway with the participation of a Greek frigate, helicopter, and aircraft.

A total of 104 people were rescued, but the death toll is expected to rise as survivors said the vessel was carrying more than 600 migrants, mostly from Pakistan, Egypt, and Syria.

According to human rights groups, the Greek Coast Guard might have ignored SOS signals from the boat, while some survivors accused Greek authorities of being directly involved in the accident.

Separately, nine suspected human traffickers were granted 24 hours to prepare their testimony over accusations that they captained the boat.

All the suspects, except one, have reportedly denied the accusations.