Twelve people die after migrant boat sinks off Greek island of Paxos

·

Twelve migrants have been found dead in the Ionian Sea and 21 others have been rescued after their boat took in water and sank.

The deaths and sea rescues happened south-west of the Greek island of Paxos, a coastguard spokesperson said on Saturday. “The initial report is that 50 people were in the boat,” he said.

The coastguard said someone from the boat had called the 112 emergency number at 9.15am on Saturday. At least four merchant ships, six coastguard ships and a helicopter are searching for survivors amid calm seas.

The tragedy happened hours before a second boat sank in the region. Eleven migrants, including eight children, died after their boat capsized off Turkey’s western coast, state-owned Anadolu agency said.

Eight others were rescued from the sea near the town of Çeşme, on the Aegean coast, it said.

In separate incidents that illustrated other routes and methods used by Europe-bound migrants, authorities in North Macedonia said that 62 migrants were discovered hidden inside freight trains at the border with Greece.

Border control teams that included officers from North Macedonia, Austria and the Czech Republic found 42 migrants during a routine inspection of a freight train in the town of Gevgelija on Friday. Thirty-eight of the migrants were from Morocco, police said.

Later Friday, another multinational team of officers discovered 20 migrants o from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Morocco and Algeria, in another freight train at the Gevgelija station.

All 62 migrants, including five minors, were taken to a detention centre pending deportation to Greece.

Sourced via The Guardian.

greek film festival melbourne

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Back to Greece: Four journeys, one shared return

As the Back to Greece series closes, what remains is more than a collection of travel diaries - it’s a mosaic of memory and identity.

Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney to hold memorial marking 113 years since Lesvos’ liberation

The Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney will honour the 113th anniversary of the Liberation of Lesvos with a series of commemorative events.

Film Review: ‘Athens Midnight Radio’ is Haralambidis’ nocturnal love letter to Athens

The 30th Greek Film Festival opened last week and featured a screening of Renos Haralambidis’ Athens Midnight Radio (2024).

Elena Pappas honoured with the 2025 Stephen Myall Award

At the Law Institute of Victoria’s annual awards ceremony in October 2025, Elena Pappas was recognised with the Stephen Myall Award.

‘Fertility and Filoxenia’: Empowering conversations on fertility and IVF options

The Hellenic Medical Society of Australia and Greek Community of Melbourne invite everyone to attend a free educational event on fertility.

You May Also Like

Greek Welfare Centre launches 2025 Winter Community Appeal to support families in need

The Greek Welfare Centre will host its annual Winter Community Appeal on Thursday, 24 July 2025, at Marrickville Town Hall, from 9am to 4pm.

Iconic Semaphore Greek Festival in South Australia wows crowds again

On Sunday, the 42nd Bank of Sydney Semaphore Greek Festival once again attracted visitors from all over Adelaide.

‘We must remember and speak the truth’: NSW marks 100 years since the Smyrna catastrophe

One hundred years ago today, on September 9, 1922, Smyrna was invaded and captured by Ottoman soldiers led by Kemal Ataturk.