Daijiworld Media Network – Athens

Athens, Dec 12: A major humanitarian tragedy unfolded off the coast of Greece as 17 migrants died and 15 others went missing after a boat carrying 34 people capsized near the island of Crete. Only two passengers were pulled out alive, Greek authorities confirmed.

Officials said most of those on board were migrants from Sudan and Egypt. The two survivors told rescuers the vessel had no cover, no food, and no drinking water, and rough seas caused it to lose balance before it went under amid severe weather that battered Crete for two days.

State broadcaster reports said the bodies recovered are undergoing post-mortem tests, with hypothermia or dehydration suspected in several deaths inside the waterlogged vessel.

The boat was first spotted last Saturday

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