Kassem Abo Zeed (C), 34, from Syria, talks to reporters explaining that he seeks information about his wife and six other relatives, who were on the ship with refugees and migrants that sank off Pylos, in the port of Kalamata, southwest of Athens, Greece, 15 June 2023. EFE/EPA/YANNIS KOLESIDIS

Hopes of finding survivors in migrant boat capsize in Greece dwindle

Athens, Jun 15 (EFE).- Hopes of finding survivors from a fishing boat carrying hundreds of migrants and refugees that capsized in the Ionian Sea off the Greek coast were dwindling on Thursday, Greek authorities said.

At least 79 people are confirmed to have died in Wednesday’s accident, while 104 people have been rescued alive.

All of the survivors are male adults from Pakistan, Egypt, Syria and Palestine.

Greek coast guards carry the dead bodies of refugees and migrants from a coast guard ship, at the port of Kalamata, southwest of Athens, Greece, 15 June 2023, following a deadly shipwreck off Pylos. EFE/EPA/YANNIS KOLESIDIS

Greek media were reporting that between 500 and 700 migrants were on board the 30-meter-long fishing vessel.

Nine ships, including a frigate of the Greek Navy, and a helicopter were engaged in search operations in the area throughout Wednesday night and Thursday, without success.

Survivors of a ship sit inside warehouse at the port town, after a boat carrying dozens of migrants sank in international waters in the Ionian Sea, in Kalamata, southwest of Athens, Greece, 15 June 2023. EFE/EPA/Angelos Tzortzinis / POOL HUNGARY OUT

The boat had set off for Italy from eastern Libya and capsized after capsizing early Wednesday morning southwest of the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece.

It is feared that hundreds of people who were in the hold went down with the ship, in one of the deepest parts of the Mediterranean.

According to survivors’ accounts reported by Greek media, there were around 100 minors inside the ship, as well as many women, while most of the men were on the outer deck of the vessel.

A young man is being treated inside a tent following a deadly shipwreck off Pylos, in the port of Kalamata, southwest of Athens, Greece, 15 June 2023. EFE/EPA/YANNIS KOLESIDIS

Coast Guard spokesman Nikos Alexiu told ERT public television that the engine of the overloaded boat suddenly stopped, before passengers moved from one side of the boat to the other, causing it to capsize.

“We will probably never know how many people exactly were on board the vessel,” he said.

In a statement, the Greek Coast Guard reported that the boat had been located around noon on Tuesday as it sailed in international waters south of the Greek peninsula.

A handout photo made available by the Hellenic Red Cross shows the warehouse where refugees and migrants are treated following a deadly shipwreck off Pylos, in the port of Kalamata, Greece, 14 June 2023 (issued 15 June 2023). EFE/EPA/HELLENIC RED CROSS / HANDOUT BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE

According to the statement, authorities repeatedly offered to assist the trawler via satellite phone and private boats that were sent to the area, but those on board refused the offer of help, expressing their desire to continue the journey to Italy.

On Wednesday, three men who were among those rescued were interrogated at the port headquarters of Kalamata on suspicion of being alleged human traffickers. EFE

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