Greece’s coastguard says one person has died and dozens are feared missing after a boat sank off the coast of the island of Folegandros.
The body of the unidentified man was recovered during an ongoing search and rescue operation. The coastguard said 12 people, all believed to be from Iraq, had been rescued and transported to the nearby island of Santorini.
Most survivors said there were originally 32 people on the boat, but one told authorities there were about 50.
The coastguard said four coastguard vessels, two helicopters from the navy and air force, a military transport plane, five passing ships and three private vessels were participating in the search and rescue operation.
“The survivors made it on to a dinghy that was tethered to the boat. Only two of them were wearing lifejackets,” a coastguard spokesperson, Nikos Kokkalas, told the state-run ERT television. “We always presume the worst-case scenario, in this case that 50 people were on the boat.”
The coastguard said the operation began on Tuesday night after it received information that a vessel carrying refugees and migrants had suffered engine failure and later begun taking on water south of Folegandros.
Greece is one of the most popular routes into the EU for people fleeing conflict and poverty in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Most attempt to cross in dinghies from the Turkish shore to the nearby eastern Aegean Greek islands.
But with increased patrols and allegations of summary deportations back to Turkey for those who arrive, many have been attempting lengthier routes on larger vessels. Folegandros, one of the southern islands in the Cyclades, is not along a usual route for migrant smugglers.
Other vessels have bypassed the Greek islands and headed directly from the Turkish coast to Italy.