According to local media, the number of people killed in the sinking of a fishing boat off the coast of southwest Greece carrying several migrants has risen to 79.
At least 104 migrants were saved, but it’s anticipated that the death toll would grow given that survivors claimed the boat was carrying up to 700 people, primarily from Pakistan, Egypt, and Syria.
Many women and children, according to some survivors, were among the travellers. The number of migrants on board could not be precisely counted, according to the Greek Coast Guard.
Three survivors are being investigated by Greek officials on suspicion of being people traffickers after their casual demeanour after being rescued and brought to the city of Kalamata.
According to ERT, all persons rescued will be interrogated as part of a preliminary investigation to shed light on the causes of the catastrophe.
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou paid a visit to the location where rescued refugees are being cared for.
In response to the tragedy, former Prime Minister and New Democracy Party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that “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.”
Alexis Tsipras, the head of the main opposition SYRIZA party, said, “The moment demands that we prioritise humanity and stand by the survivors of the shipwreck, while intensifying every effort to locate those who have gone missing.”
PASOK chairman Nikos Androulakis has urged for tighter cooperation between the European Union and Greece to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
The office of Greek caretaker Prime Minister Ioannis Sarmas established a three-day period of national mourning for the victims of the disaster.