Dozens of persons are stated to be lacking after a ship of migrants and refugees sank within the Aegean Sea on Wednesday off the Greek island of Karpathos, in accordance with the UN refugee company, UNHCR.

“Very unhappy information from the Aegean: Dozens of persons are lacking after a ship sank off the island of Rhodes this morning (Wednesday),” UNHCR’s workplace in Greece stated in a tweet.

Information media reported that the vessel sank at daybreak after setting sail from southern Türkiye yesterday, heading for Italy.

29 rescued

“A significant search and rescue operation is underway,” stated UNHCR.

In response to information stories, the Greek Coast Guard stated that an air and sea rescue operation saved 29 folks, all males, from the waters between Rhodes and Crete.

The media additionally cited the Greek authorities in reporting that the rescued are from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran.

The wrecked boat had sailed from Antalya, situated on the southern coast of neighbouring Türkiye.

Nonetheless looking

Information media quoted a Greek Coast Guard press official who stated that these rescued affirmed that the voyage started with 80 folks on board – so as much as 50 are nonetheless lacking.  

UNHCR confirmed the variety of lacking.

Lethal route

For the reason that starting of the yr, UNHCR has stated that greater than 60 folks have died within the japanese Mediterranean.

Aegean Sea crossings between the Greek islands and Turkish coasts are sometimes perilous – taking the lives of many migrants and refugees who journey on makeshift boats with hopes of arriving in Europe.

Since January, 64 folks have died within the japanese Mediterranean, and 111 in 2021, in accordance with information from the Worldwide Group for Migration (IOM).

The final shipwreck within the Aegean Sea, which came about on 19 June, took the lives of eight folks off the island of Mykonos, in accordance with the IOM.

Each extra lethal crossing

Whereas the variety of refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean to succeed in Europe is decrease than in 2015, the journeys have change into more and more extra lethal.

All through final yr, the UN counted 3,231 migrants and refugees useless or lacking within the Mediterranean Sea, and 945 folks to date this yr.

Profitable voyages

On the identical time, 70,325 migrants did handle to succeed in Europe, of which 65,548 particular person crossings have been reported within the Mediterranean, in accordance with UNHCR.

For the reason that starting of the yr, Italy acquired the biggest variety of arrivals – 43,740, adopted by Spain – practically 17,000, Greece – 7,261, and Cyprus – 2,268.

Final yr there have been 123,300 arrivals, and in 2020, 95,800. Beforehand, 123,700 crossed the Mediterranean in 2019, and 141,500 in 2018.