Status: 06/19/2022 2:29 p.m
A sailing boat carrying migrants sank off the Greek island of Mykonos. 108 people were saved, four are missing. Greece called on Turkey to cooperate against smugglers.
In a shipwreck with migrants west of the island of Mykonos, 108 people have been rescued and four people are missing. According to the Greek Coast Guard, 24 women, 21 children and 63 men were brought to safety by noon.
The overcrowded sailing boat was in distress in stormy weather and filled with water, and there were no life jackets on board.
Strong winds make the search difficult
The search for the missing continues, but is difficult due to the strong winds in the region. The boat is said to have departed from the west coast of Turkey. Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis tweeted to Turkey’s Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu.
Turkey can do a “better job” and work with the EU and Greece to protect lives and shut down smuggling networks, Mitarakis wrote.
Smugglers apparently rely on sailing boats
According to the Greek Coast Guard, smugglers are increasingly using sailing boats to send migrants from Turkey directly to Italy. Around 4,000 people are said to have made the crossing since the beginning of the year, but there have always been accidents.
The reason for choosing the long, more dangerous route is the harsh attitude of Greek border guards, who prevent boats from crossing to the nearby Greek islands. Aid organizations accuse Athens of illegal pushbacks, which the government rejects.