Dozens of migrants killed in boat accident in Greece: security officer does not recognize professional golfer and throws him to the ground

At least 59 migrants have died in a serious boat accident off the Greek coast. The Greek state broadcaster ERT reported this on Wednesday with reference to the coast guard. So far 104 people have been rescued.

However, it was feared that the death toll could be much higher. The rescued reportedly stated that up to 400 people could have been on board the damaged boat.

Authorities said a large-scale search continued in international waters around the Peloponnese peninsula. Patrol boats from the Coast Guard, Air Force, a Navy frigate and six freighters and other vessels were deployed to the area. Greek President Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou flew to the Peloponnese peninsula in the afternoon to get a sense of the situation. Four hospitals stand by to treat the injured.

On Tuesday, Italian authorities informed their Greek neighbors about a fully manned fishing boat in the Greek search and rescue area, the Coast Guard said in a statement. A Frontex aircraft then located the boat 47 nautical miles southwest of the Peloponnese peninsula. Both the Hellenic Coast Guard and passing cargo ships had repeatedly offered assistance to the passengers by radio, but this was refused, the ministry said.

The boat then capsized and eventually sank in the early hours of the morning. According to survivors, it had departed from Tobruk in Libya. Initially, nothing was known about the nationalities of the people.

Also on Wednesday morning, south of Crete, a sailboat occupied by migrants was in distress. Dozens of people have also been rescued there, according to the authorities.

During the long journeys from Turkey or North Africa, accidents always happen because the boats are often old and not seaworthy. Also, there is usually no skipper on board who has been trained for the dangerous journey. At least 326 people were killed in the region last year, according to the UN. However, the Coast Guard assumes that the number of unreported cases is higher. (sda/dpa)