Three dead, 302 rescued from sinking migrant boat off Crete

A coast guard spokesman said four ships were involved in the operation, with helicopters on their way.

Hundreds of migrants were “in distress” in the water.

The boat was found in international waters, 75 nautical miles south of the Greek island of Crete.

An improvement in weather conditions has led to an upsurge in the numbers of boats crossing the Mediterranean.

The UN said this week that more than 2,500 people had died in 2016 trying to make the journey towards Western Europe.

At least 700 migrants were believed to be on board, with hundreds still missing, the International Organization for Migration said.

“Over 300 people have been rescued from a shipwreck off Crete which is believed to have left Africa with at least 700 migrants on board,” the organization said in a statement.