Two people who survived the incident were rescued and transported to a hospital unit.
The sinking of a ship carrying migrants led to the death of seventeen people, all men, this Saturday (6), in international waters near the island of Crete, Greece. The information was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Greek coast guard to the AFP news agency.
Two people who survived the incident were rescued and transported to a hospital unit. The state of health of both is considered critical, as detailed by the same spokesperson. The circumstances of the sinking and the factors which led to the tragedy are still under investigation by the competent authorities.
The two survivors reported to authorities that the ship had lost its stability due to adverse weather conditions recorded in the area. They also reported the absence of resources on board to protect themselves against the elements, as well as to hydrate or feed themselves, as revealed by the official source.
According to information from the Greek public channel ERT, the seventeen bodies were found inside the ship, partially submerged and whose structure was deflated. Forensic doctors examine the bodies to determine the cause of death. The ERT indicates that hypothermia or dehydration are hypotheses considered in the autopsy process.
The exact location of the event was 26 nautical miles southwest of Crete, an important location on Mediterranean migration routes. The first alert about the incident was issued after a Turkish-flagged cargo ship spotted the sunken vessel late in the afternoon and immediately reported it to Greek authorities, according to Greek news agency Ana.
A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched by the Greek coast guard. As part of the search and rescue efforts, the coast guard mobilized two of its own vessels, with support from a vessel belonging to the European agency Frontex. In addition, three other ships sailing in the area, a Super Puma helicopter and a Frontex plane were moved to the area of the maritime accident.
This event takes place in a context of an increase in the flow of people seeking asylum in the European Union by this sea route. Data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) indicates that since the start of the year, more than 16,770 people have arrived on the island of Crete with the intention of seeking asylum. This number represents a higher volume of arrivals than recorded on other Greek islands located in the Aegean Sea. The repetition of shipwrecks and loss of life highlights the current humanitarian crisis and the urgency to discuss maritime security in the region. Authorities are continuing their investigations to fully clarify what happened.