Two people drowned when a boat carrying refugees and irregular migrants sank off the east coast of the Greek island of Rhodes on Tuesday morning.
According to a report released by the Greek Coast Guard, 2 bodies were recovered during a search and rescue operation (SAR) while 63 people were rescued.
Search operations in the area are ongoing and coordinated by the Unified Search and Rescue Coordination Center. A patrol vessel, a rescue boat, and private divers are involved in the effort to locate any missing persons.
This is the third shipwreck in a month. On December 20, another shipwreck occurred off the coast of Rhodes.
The boat’s operator lost control during dangerous maneuvers while attempting to evade a pursuing Coast Guard vessel. Tragically, migrants were flung overboard during these maneuvers, and some drowned before they could be rescued by the Coast Guard.
Of the migrants on board, eight lost their lives after falling into the water. Eighteen others were rescued.
A week before that, another shipwreck involving irregular migrants and refugees took place near Gavdos, an isle off the south coast of Crete resulting in seven deaths and leaving many missing.
That incident occurred 12.5 nautical miles south of Gavdos during the night between Friday and Saturday. A small boat carrying 82 people, all Pakistani nationals, capsized in rough seas.
