Greek and European border authorities have launched a search and rescue operation in the eastern Aegean Sea after reports that a boat carrying dozens of migrants sank off the island of Lesvos on Wednesday leaving two dead.
The Greek coastguard says a helicopter, patrol boats and fishing boats are combing an area north of Lesvos for survivors, but no reliable information is yet available on how many people were on the boat and if anybody drowned.
Boats from the European Frontex border agency were assisting.
Greek state ERT TV said two people have been reported dead from Wednesday’s incident, and about 70 have been rescued.
Lesvos is the main destination for migrants seeking a better life in Europe who cross over from nearby Turkey in flimsy boats provided by Turkish smuggling gangs.
