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Migrant crisis: Hundreds rescued from boat off Crete Migrant crisis: Hundreds rescued from boat off Crete
(about 3 hours later)
About 340 people have been rescued from a migrant boat that capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, Greek officials say. About 340 migrants have been rescued and four bodies have been pulled from the sea after a boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, Greek officials say.
Four ships, helicopters and aeroplanes are engaged in rescue operations, a coastguard spokesman said.
Others are thought to be missing from the boat which was found in international waters, 75 nautical miles south of the Greek island of Crete.Others are thought to be missing from the boat which was found in international waters, 75 nautical miles south of the Greek island of Crete.
Ships, helicopters and planes are engaged in the rescue operation.
In a separate incident, "more than 100 bodies" were recovered off the coast of Libya, the AP news agency said.In a separate incident, "more than 100 bodies" were recovered off the coast of Libya, the AP news agency said.
The local head of the International Organisation for Migration Daniel Esdras told the BBC that the capsized vessel off Crete was a 25-metre boat that can typically carry at least 700 people.The local head of the International Organisation for Migration Daniel Esdras told the BBC that the capsized vessel off Crete was a 25-metre boat that can typically carry at least 700 people.
Officials have said they believe the boat "left from Africa" though it is still not clear from where.Officials have said they believe the boat "left from Africa" though it is still not clear from where.
Friday's incident is likely to deepen concerns about a new smuggling route, one that could bring more tragedies at sea, following the closure of the Balkan route from Greece to Turkey in March. Most of the survivors were put on board a cargo vessel heading to Italy. Others were taken to Egypt, Turkey and Malta, a spokesperson for the Greek coastguard said.
It marks the second time this week that migrants have had to be rescued in waters off the Greek coast. Meanwhile, the number of dead from the boat that sank off Libya's coastline has reached 107, Libyan Red Crescent spokesman Mohammed al-Mosrati said, quoted by AP.
An improvement in weather conditions has led to an upsurge in the numbers of boats crossing the Mediterranean. They included 40 women and five children and are thought to have died in the past 48 hours, Mr al-Mosrati said.
They were washed up on a beach near the city of Zuwara, from which many unseaworthy boats are believed to have set out for Italy packed with migrants.
New route?
The UN said this week that more than 2,500 people had died in 2016 trying to make the journey towards Western Europe.The UN said this week that more than 2,500 people had died in 2016 trying to make the journey towards Western Europe.
A recent improvement in weather conditions has led to an upsurge in the numbers of boats crossing the Mediterranean.
This marks the second time this week that migrants have had to be rescued in waters off the Greek coast. Up until now few migrants have landed on Crete, which lies north of Libya and Egypt.
Friday's incident is likely to deepen concerns about a new smuggling route, one that could bring more tragedies at sea, following the closure of the Balkan route from Greece to Turkey in March.
Until the border closure, hundreds of thousands of migrants - many of them refugees from the Syrian civil war - streamed north through Greece, heading for Germany via the Balkans.Until the border closure, hundreds of thousands of migrants - many of them refugees from the Syrian civil war - streamed north through Greece, heading for Germany via the Balkans.
But border controls have since been tightened, leaving many asylum seekers stranded in Greece.But border controls have since been tightened, leaving many asylum seekers stranded in Greece.
The EU has also struck a deal with Turkey to stem the flow of people risking their lives on flimsy boats crossing to Greece's Aegean islands.The EU has also struck a deal with Turkey to stem the flow of people risking their lives on flimsy boats crossing to Greece's Aegean islands.
In the past week the focus has switched to the central Mediterranean, because of a surge in the numbers of migrants making the long, perilous voyage from Libya to Lampedusa and Sicily. Italy and its EU partners are struggling to shut down the route.In the past week the focus has switched to the central Mediterranean, because of a surge in the numbers of migrants making the long, perilous voyage from Libya to Lampedusa and Sicily. Italy and its EU partners are struggling to shut down the route.