59 Drowned and 104 Rescued Near Greece's Shores

The Greek Coast Guard reported today, Wednesday, that "59 migrants have drowned, and 104 have been rescued after a fishing boat capsized off the town of Pylos in southern Greece." The number of passengers on board the boat at the time of the sinking is not clear. Authorities stated that the survivors were transferred to the town of Kalamata. The Coast Guard noted: "An EU border patrol aircraft from Frontex and two other boats nearby located the vessel in international waters about 80 kilometers from the town of Pylos in southern Greece." They added: "The people on board the boat refused assistance offered by Greek authorities. After hours, their boat capsized and sank, prompting the launch of a search and rescue operation." The ERT broadcasting authority indicated that "the boat had set sail from the city of Tobruk in Libya, located south of the Greek island of Crete, and most of those on board were young individuals in their twenties."