Dozens missing after migrant boat sinks off coast of Greek island

Greek authorities said they were searching for up to 50 people missing after a boat carrying migrants sank during the night.

The coast guard said on Wednesday that 29 people, all men, had been rescued from the sea 33 nautical miles (61 kilometres) east southeast of Karpathos, a southeastern island between Rhodes and Crete.

Those rescued were from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. They told authorities there had been roughly 60 to 80 people on board the vessel when it went down the Aegean Sea, the coast guard said.

Those rescued also said the boat had set sail from the Antalya area on the southern Turkish coast and was aiming for Italy when it ran into trouble during the night.

Two coast guard patrol boats, a Greek navy vessel, an air force helicopter and at least three ships sailing nearby were participating in the search and rescue efforts despite strong winds, a coast guard spokesperson added.

The most common sea route for asylum-seekers from the Middle East, Asia and Africa has been from Turkey to nearby Greek islands.

But with Greek authorities increasing patrols in the Aegean, and with reports that Turkey is summarily deporting people without allowing them to apply for asylum, many are now skirting the Greek islands and attempting to take the longer, more dangerous route directly to Italy.

Greek authorities deny they carry out illegal summary deportations of asylum-seekers.

Since January, at least 64 people have died in the eastern Mediterranean, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).