3 dead, others missing after boat capsizes near Greek resort island

Three people have died and 12 others are missing after a boat carrying migrants capsized near the Greek resort island of Mykonos, authorities said.

The incident in the Aegean Sea occurred early Friday morning. The search involving two rescue helicopters along with the coast guard and private boats began after two men, a Palestinian and a Syrian, swam to rocks near the coast and were discovered by authorities.

The bodies of two adult females and one adult male were recovered at sea several hours later. Coast Guard spokesman Nikos Kokkalas said moderate winds were prevailing in the search area, adding that the incident occurred around 6 a.m. off the northeast coast of Mykonos.

The island is more than 150 kilometers from the nearest point on the Turkish coast. Turkiye-based smugglers have frequently chosen open sea routes in recent years to try to avoid the heavily patrolled waters of the eastern Aegean, where several large Greek islands lie close to the Turkish coast.

latest world news