The death toll of the shipwreck of a fishing boat off Pylos rose to at least 79 on Wednesday evening, authorities said.
At least 79 bodies have been recovered, while survivors number 104, including 4 airlifted from Pylos to the Kalamata hospital.
The full number of passengers remains unknown. Thhe boat had sailed off from Tobruk (Libya) before sinking in international waters 47 nautical miles off the city of Pylos on the southwest coast of the Peloponnese.
Rescue efforts
The Coast Guard and aircraft are continuing to search the area to locate more persons missing after the shipwreck.
A massive search-and-rescue operation mounted by the Hellenic Coast Guard has so far rescued 104 individuals – none of whom were wearing a life jacket – including four people rushed to Kalamata hospital in a Super-Puma helicopter.
The other rescued migrants were transferred to the port of Kalamata, where preparations for their reception have been made with the assistance of the general secretariat of Civil Protection.
Two coast guard patrol vessels, a Coast Guard life boat, a Greek Navy frigate, seven vessels that were sailing nearby, a Greek Navy helicopter and a drone participated in the search for survivors.
SOURCE; ANA-MPA
