Death toll from migrant shipwreck rises to 78; search continues

A massive search-and-rescue operation mounted by the Hellenic Coast Guard has so far rescued 104 individuals - none of whom were wearing a life jacket - including four people rushed to Kalamata hospital in a Super-Puma helicopter.

At least 78 dead bodies have been found so far during the search-and-rescue operation mounted on Wednesday, after a fishing boat carrying an unknown number of migrants capsized in international waters, 47 nautical miles southwest of the Peloponnese coast and the town of Pylos. The Coast Guard and aircraft are continuing to search the area to locate more persons missing after the shipwreck.

A massive search-and-rescue operation mounted by the Hellenic Coast Guard has so far rescued 104 individuals – none of whom were wearing a life jacket – including four people rushed to Kalamata hospital in a Super-Puma helicopter. The other rescued migrants will be taken to the port of Kalamata, where preparations for their reception have been made with the assistance of the general secretariat of Civil Protection. Two coast guard patrol vessels, a Coast Guard life boat, a Greek Navy frigate, seven vessels that were sailing nearby, a Greek Navy helicopter and a drone participated in the search for survivors.