79 killed as overcrowded migrant vessel sinks off Greece; hundreds missing
Greece boat disaster: In one of the worst disasters of its kind this year, 79 people dies after a fishing boat crammed to the gunwales with migrants trying to reach Europe capsized and sank Wednesday off the coast of Greece. Over 100 individuals have been rescued, however, survivors and Greek officials say that hundreds more migrants were on board.
According to government officials, this is one of Greece's biggest migrant tragedies. Three days of mourning has been declared.
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The coastguard reported that the boat had declined rescue and that it went down about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Pylos.
The boat was discovered in international waters late on Tuesday, according to the coast guard, by an EU border agency Frontex aircraft. It also stated that no one on board was wearing a life jacket.
Authorities had made contact with the boat via satellite phone on several occasions and offered help but were repeatedly told - "We want nothing more than to go on to Italy," Greek public broadcaster ERT said.
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