Yet another sea disaster took place this morning around 7:00, not far from Mytilene's airport. A plastic boat capsized with 46 illegal immigrants on board. Among them were nine children under the age of 12 and 11 or 12 women.
The immigrants were found by a Frontex helicopter. The Coast Guard arrived on the spot and rescued 20 while 26 are still missing, among them many women and children.
Today at noon the body of another child, a 6-year-old girl, was recovered from the water. It is unclear, however, whether she is the victim of yesterday's or today's incident.
According to the testimonies of the rescued, the boat capsized from the waves made by a merchant ship passing by. "It was dark, we saw the ship coming toward us. We tried to signal our presence with our mobile phones and torches, but they didn't see us. It was scary when we capsized. We were plunged into the water among big waves. We lost the children. We couldn't see them in the dark. At daybreak, we saw the helicopter and then came the ship that rescued us. We hope that they find the children at least. Because there is only one with us ...," said Hassin, one of those rescued.
The immigrants had paid 1,000 euros each to a Turkish smuggler who took them to the beach, from which they set out, and gave them the boat.
The efforts to find the immigrants who disappeared yesterday in the sea east of Mytilene remain fruitless. A five-year old girl died during the accident. Their number is unknown, but it is believed there were about 10-12 of them.
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