Boat Carrying Illegal Migrants Capsizes Near Island, One Dead

Greek authorities have discovered the body of a man and rescued 39 migrants at sea after their boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea near Gavdos Island, Reuters reported, citing the Greek coast guard.

According to eyewitnesses, many others are still considered missing, and the coast guard has initiated a search operation involving vessels and aviation, after being alerted to the incident on Friday evening.

In other incidents that occurred on Saturday, a cargo ship flying the Maltese flag rescued 47 migrants, while a tanker saved another 88 migrants in southern Greece.

Preliminary information suggests that coast guard representatives believe the boats departed together from Libya. Media reports indicate that incidents and shipwrecks involving boats carrying migrants have increased near the shores of Crete and the small island of Gavdos over the past year.