Athens: Three immigrants died of a boat sinking near the island of Crete in South Greece, while 56 people were rescued. A Greek Coast Guard reported that efforts were underway to locate others immersed in water. He said that it was not yet clear whether anyone was still missing as the rescued people were not in a condition to tell how many people were in the boat. Two children and a woman died in this accident.
The Coast Guard said that one person, claiming to be a passenger, called the officers and told them that there were 16 people in the boat. The boat sank near the island of Crete due to strong winds. At present, it is not known where the ferry left and where it was going. Significantly, thousands of refugees and immigrants from Africa and Asia often seek refuge in the hope of a better life on the Aegean Sea islands of Greece. Usually these people arrive via Turkey but sometimes smuggling gangs take a ferry from the south of Crete to Italy.
