Two boys aged 4,5 and their father were drowned in the early morning hours of Thursday, when the boat carrying them together with other migrants sank off the island of Samos.
The Greek Coast Guard spotted eleven migrants, among them three children, swimming in the sea area East of the island. Some of them were wearing life jackets. One person was reported missing.
The twin boys aged 4.5 died while the Greek Coast Guard was transferring them to Samos, media report.
Later, the body of the father was retrieved from the sea.
It is not known whether also the mother was onboard of the boat.
The survivors told authorities that there were 12 people on the boat. They all have been transferred to the hospital on Samos.
Among the survivors are a 3.5-year-old girl that had signs of hypothermia and her parents.
The Search and Rescue operation was launched at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday night after the Greek Coast Guard received a message. Several vessels of the Coast Guard, one of the Frontex and a helicopter of the Greek Navy participated in the operation.
