Four people died early morning Monday when a boat carrying migrants sank off the island of Samos in eastern Greece opposite the Turkish coast. The dead are two girls estimated to be 10-12 years old and two adult women. The number of missing people remains unclear with local media to speak of 25 missing migrants.
Big Search and Rescue operation is ongoing.
So far, five people have been rescued among them one pregnant woman in early labor, state broadcaster ERT reported at 3 p.m. With the cooperation of the coast guard and the NGO Doctors Without Borders, the woman had been transferred to the health center of Karlovasi.
The number of missing migrants is unclear as survivors initially said there were 33 people on board and later 36.
The tragededy occurred 150 meter off the Agios Isidoros area, northwest of Samos.
In a parallel incident, 25 migrants have been located in Drakaios area and it is still unclear whether they are survivors of Agios Isidoros shipwreck or they were abandoned by human traffickers there. These 25 migrants are reportedly from Syria, Palestine and Kuwait.
All rescued are being transferred to the closed controlled Structure of Samos.
While authorities try to clarify the issue, the big SAR operation continues with the participation of sea and land patrol vessels, private boats and an Air Force helicopter,
Efforts of the rescue forces are hampered by the adverse weather conditions prevailing in the area, as winds are blowing intensity of 5 to 6 and even 7 Beaufort.
