Nine refugees die as boat overturns in Aegean Sea

Athens: At least nine refugees, including four children, lost their lives and several people went missing on Tuesday in the latest boat tragedy in the Aegean Sea, the Greek Coast Guard said.

The dinghy travelling from Turkey to Greece overturned off the coast of Greece’s Kos Island, Xinhua reported.

Seven refugees were rescued, while an operation was underway to locate and rescue at least three to five missing people.

The survivors said that there were about 20 refugees on board.

According to Amnesty International estimates, 512 people perished in the Aegean till November 10 this year while 3,500 refugees had crossed the Mediterranean Sea.

More than 620,000 refugees, mostly from war-torn Syria, have so far reportedly reached Greece’s shores seeking safety in Europe.

IANS