The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday that 12 of its nationals survived the capsizing of an overcrowded migrant boat off the coast of Greece last week. Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated that the government has yet to verify the number of Pakistanis who died in the incident or their identities. She added, "Authorities have urged those searching for missing relatives to provide the ministry with identification documents and DNA samples from accredited laboratories."
It is believed that the death toll from the disaster, which occurred last Wednesday, could reach several hundred, as eyewitness accounts indicated that between 400 and 750 people were aboard the fishing boat that sank approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the town of Pylos in southern Greece. Greek authorities reported that 104 survivors and 78 bodies were brought to shore immediately following the disaster, while hopes of finding more survivors continue to dwindle. Government officials in Greece noted that most of the passengers were from Egypt, Syria, and Pakistan.
