Greek coastguard accused as migrant dies in Aegean Sea

One idiosyncratic died and 43 were rescued when a migrant vessel got into difficulties successful the Aegean Sea, Turkish authorities said Thursday, while an NGO accused the Greek coastguard of endangering the vessel.

The migrants were conscionable disconnected the Greek land of Lesbos, which is astir 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Turkish coast, when the inflatable vessel became “partially submerged” connected Wednesday, according to the Turkish coastguard.

Forty-three radical were rescued by the Turkish coastguard, including 4 who were successful the water.

“The assemblage of an irregular migrant was recovered and a suspected smuggler was apprehended,” the Turkish coastguard said.

The crossing is often used by radical smugglers arsenic Greece is simply a cardinal introduction constituent for migrants seeking to scope Europe. In April, 19 Afghan migrants drowned when an inflatable dinghy sank disconnected the Turkish coast.

The Norwegian NGO Aegean Boat Report, which helps migrants successful distress successful the Aegean Sea, said it received an exigency telephone from radical connected the inflatable accusing the Greek coastguard of damaging the vessel.

“The radical told us they had been violently pushed backmost by the Hellenic Coastguard,” Aegean Boat Report said successful a statement.

“According to the survivors, the coastguard destroyed the engine, damaged the rubber vessel during the attack, and near them helplessly drifting astatine oversea while the vessel started taking successful water.

The NGO documents amerciable pushbacks blamed connected the Greek coastguard – allegations that Greece denies.

In February, 15 migrants were killed successful a collision betwixt a small vessel and a Greek coastguard patrol vessel disconnected the land of Chios, conscionable a abbreviated region from the Turkish coast.

At slightest 1,209 migrants person died oregon gone missing successful the Mediterranean since the opening of the year, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

Source: AFP