Thirty five drown in latest migrant tragedy

The tragedy unfolded early on Sunday morning after a migrant-laden dinghy carrying at least 100 people capsized in waters east of Farmakonissi. The victims include four infants and 10 small children, as well as six women and eight men.

A search-and-rescue operation has been underway since dawn, when a distress call was received on the 112 emergency number.

A Super-Puma helicopter has been scouring the area to search for possible survivors and boats rushed to the scene from Mytilene and rescued 68 people from the water.

Another 29 successfully reached the shore unaided. The search is continuing since survivors are not able to confirm how many people were on board the dinghy.

Shipping Minister Christos Zois, currently on the island of Lesvos to attend a meeting on the migration issue, has also been informed about the incident.

Efforts were also continuing on Sunday to locate four underage migrants that have been missing since their boat overturned in seas north of Samos on Saturday.

The Greek coast guard successfully rescued 24 migrants in that incident, while 32 were picked up safely by a Frontex patrol boat in seas east of Lesvos, who reported that a 20-year-old man on their boat was missing.