Drama in the Mediterranean

Boat carrying migrants crashes: three children dead

The Greek island of Chios (archive image)

(Bild: AFP)

A rubber dinghy with more than 20 migrants on board apparently ran aground on an impassable cliff in the north-east of the island of Chios two days ago. Greek media reported that three children died in the accident.

It was only on Wednesday that several survivors managed to get over the rocks and get help - since then, the coast guard and fire department have been working to rescue the people, as the ERT broadcaster reported.

Dehydrated
16 people were brought to safety from the rocks, but three girls aged four, seven and ten are said not to have survived the accident. The people were completely dehydrated, said an aid worker on site. It is still unclear when exactly the accident occurred and whether the three children died from a lack of water or other circumstances.

It was also initially uncertain whether there were any other survivors or victims. The deceased are said to be three of five siblings who were on board with their mother. The mother, a 30-day-old baby and another of her children are said to have survived.

A total of eight children were among the passengers, according to reports. The people claimed to be from Afghanistan and to have set sail from the west coast of Turkey, Greek media reported.