An inflatable boat carrying 25 refugees and migrants sank in the eastern Aegean between Greece and Turkey leaving at least 16 people dead, including two children, Greek authorities said Monday.
Patrol boats and helicopters were searching for several more people believed missing.
Greece’s coast guard reported that the bodies of nine people- six women, two men and a child- had been recovered from Greek territorial waters off the island of Lesvos, while Turkish authorities found the bodies of six men and a child in Turkish waters.
One of the rescued women was pregnant. She told Greek authorities she had been among 25 people who had set sail late Sunday night from the Turkish coast heading to Lesvos.
Greek coast guard vessels and helicopters, as well as authorities and Europe’s border patrol agency Frontex were participating in a search-and-rescue operation, while private boats belonging to local fisherman were also helping in the effort.
The alert was called to shore Monday morning by a Greek navy vessel that spotted bodies in the water.