ATHENS: A wooden boat capsized late Friday night off the southern Greek island of Gavdos, killing five migrants and leaving 40 others missing, local authorities confirmed.
The Greek Coast Guard reported that 39 men, mostly from Pakistan, were rescued by cargo ships operating in the area. They were taken to the nearby island of Crete.
The Coast Guard, merchant vessels, an Italian frigate, and aircraft have been searching for the missing migrants since the incident. The boat sank 12 nautical miles southwest of Gavdos.
Search Operations Continue
On Saturday, in separate incidents, two other boats were rescued. A Malta-flagged cargo ship saved 47 people, while a British-flagged tanker rescued 88 migrants. These boats were located 28 and 40 nautical miles south of Gavdos.
Initial reports suggest the boats left together from Libya, a common departure point for migrants trying to reach Europe.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has taken notice of the tragic boat capsizing near Greece’s southern island, which involved several illegal migrants, including some from Pakistan, attempting to reach Europe.
Minister Naqvi, deeply concerned about the incident, has ordered a full investigation. An inquiry committee has been set up, led by Rafat Mukhtar Raja, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.
The committee will investigate the incident and submit a report to the Interior Minister within five days.
