At least seven people, including two children, have died after a boat carrying migrants from Turkey to a nearby Greek island Lesbos capsized, Greece’s coastguard said on Thursday.
Twenty-three people were rescued, the coastguard said. A search and rescue operation off the northern coast of the island of Lesbos recovered the bodies of the victims.
Turkish media reported that the Turkish Coast Guard was involved in the incident, which occurred after a rubber boat sank in the Aegean Sea between the Turkish mainland and the island of Lesbos.
Those rescued were taken to hospital and the search continues, state news agency Anadolu reported.
The weather in the area was reportedly good and it was unclear what caused the boat to capsize early Thursday morning. There was no information on the total number of people in the boat, their nationalities or the type of vessel.
A search and rescue operation at sea and on land is ongoing. Three Coast Guard vessels, an Air Force helicopter and a neighbouring boat are surveying the area in search of possible victims.
Greece is a major entry point to the European Union for people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Many of them make the short but often dangerous journey from the Turkish coast to nearby Greek islands in inflatable boats.
