Only two people could be saved (symbolic image).Image: www.imago-images.de
The Greek coast guard has discovered a disabled boat with 18 dead migrants off Crete. Two people survived, reported the Greek public broadcaster ERTnews.
Hypothermia and exhaustion
The two rescued people told the emergency services that they had lost control of the boat during a severe storm. The migrants were then on the open sea without water, food and sufficient protection. According to the Coast Guard, the 18 people had been dead for more than a day when the boat was discovered, according to local media reports. It is still unclear where the migrants came from. Forensics and Coast Guard investigators are now trying to determine what exactly happened on the boat, according to Coast Guard headquarters.
Severe autumn storm
A severe autumn storm with wind gusts of more than 90 kilometers per hour has been raging in the sea around Crete in the past few days. Smuggling gangs repeatedly bring migrants along the dangerous route from Tobruk in Libya to Crete. This year, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), almost 17,000 migrants arrived in Crete by the beginning of December. (sda/dpa)