In a tragic event off the coast of Greece, a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized on Wednesday, resulting in the death of 78 individuals. This devastating incident ranks among the most severe maritime catastrophes in Greece’s history.
The Italy-bound boat is believed to have sailed from Tobruk, in eastern Libya. The Italian Coast Guard first alerted Greek authorities and Frontex about the approaching vessel on Tuesday.
The rescue operation, orchestrated on a grand scale, engaged a multitude of resources. These included local harbour police vessels, a frigate from the Greek navy, an air force aircraft and helicopter, and six other ships that were in the vicinity at the time.
The Greek shores usually witness the arrival of migrants who embark on their journey from nearby Turkey, in hopes of entering the European Union.
The Greek Coast Guard stated that the fishing boat, which was carrying the victims, capsized in international waters, near the Peloponnese peninsula of Greece.
The extensive rescue mission, initiated on Wednesday morning, managed to rescue 104 people. Among these survivors, four were transported to a hospital located in the town of Kalamata in the southern Peloponnese.
At this point, further details regarding the victims’ identities, including their nationalities, genders, and ages, remain undisclosed.
According to a recent report from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Libya registered the highest number of migrant fatalities on terrestrial routes across North Africa in 2022.
This troubling statistic underscores the perilous journey many migrants undertake, with Libya’s position as a significant transit country toward Europe adding to the risk.
In western Libya, authorities have raided migrant hubs in the capital, Tripoli, and other towns over the past few weeks. At least 1,800 migrants were detained and taken to government-run detention centers, according to the UN refugee agency.
Mediterranean smugglers are increasingly taking larger boats into international waters off the Greek mainland to try to avoid local coast guard patrols.