It is feared that up to 33 migrants have drowned in the Ionian Sea
after the wooden trawler carrying more than 250 people to Italy sank off Corfu on Saturday with some of those rescued from the vessel claiming
that it had been hit by a cargo ship that then failed to help them.
Authorities on Corfu had initially thought that 22 people were missing but as
search and rescue teams continued to scour the Ionian yesterday, it
emerged that the number is likely to be higher. Officials said that a
total of 230 migrants had been safely transferred to the island. They
consisted of 214 men, five women and 11 children. Fifteen of the
survivors required hospital treatment and seven were still being treated yesterday but their lives are not thought to be in danger. Coast guard
officers also arrested two men who are suspected of being Turkish
people-smugglers who were sailing the migrants from Greece to Italy.A third man has been arrested in Athens on suspicion of helping organize
the trip. He is alleged to have accepted between 2,000 and 2,500 euros
from each immigrant for their transportation to Italy. The majority of
those on board the trawler were Afghans who had been living in Greece
for several years and wanted to leave for a country where their
application for political asylum would be examined.Six of the
migrants were appointed to represent the whole group and they told
journalists yesterday that their boat sank after being struck by a cargo ship some 30 nautical miles off Corfu. It was initially thought that
the trawler ran into engine problems. The immigrants claim that they
issued a distress call but the vessel that struck them ignored it. They
are asking for representatives of the United Nations to travel to the
island so they can be informed about what happened and launch an
investigation into the incident.
ACCIDENTS
18 January 2011 - 14:31
Corfu migrant death toll rises
It is feared that up to 33 migrants have drowned in the Ionian Sea after the wooden trawler sank off Corfu
ACCIDENTS
18 January 2011 - 14:31
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