8 dead off Greek island of Rhodes as speedboat carrying migrants capsizes
The boat was carrying out ‘dangerous manoeuvres’ to try to evade a patrol vessel, the coastguard said
A speedboat carrying migrants capsized on Friday morning off the eastern Greek island of Rhodes, leaving eight dead, Greek authorities said.
The coastguard said the incident occurred while the speedboat was carrying out “dangerous manoeuvres” to try to evade a patrol vessel, causing migrants to fall into the sea. Eighteen of the migrants were rescued.
Rescuers on three coastguard vessels and a helicopter were working near the resort area of Afantou Beach in the northeast of the island.
It was unclear whether other passengers were missing, authorities said.
Eight of the survivors were hospitalised, local officials said, with one of them in critical condition, according to state-run television.
Rhodes, one of several large Greek islands located near the coast of Turkey, is on a busy illegal smuggling route in the eastern Mediterranean.