Greece migrant boat catastrophe: What we all know to date
The boat’s captain and eight other people were arrested on suspicion of smuggling after the catastrophe on June 14.
Conflicting experiences concerning the boat’s location and situation have solid doubt on whether or not the Greek authorities did sufficient to assist the migrants.
This could possibly be one of many deadliest refugee shipwrecks recorded, after a ship sank in April 2015 killing as much as 700 migrants.
Investigations are beneath method and that is what we all know to date.
How many individuals had been onboard the boat?
Coastguard spokesman Nikos Alexiou has stated that it was unattainable to precisely estimate the variety of individuals on the boat.
However, Ioannis Zafiropoulos, deputy mayor of the southern port metropolis of Kalamata, stated that he believes there have been “more than 500 people” on board. Some witnesses have even stated there have been as much as 750 individuals on board, together with as much as as many as 100 kids. The International Organization for Migration and UNHCR estimate that between 400 and 750 individuals had been onboard.
Around 100 individuals have been rescued, however tons of of persons are lacking. Rescue volunteer Constantinos Vlachonikolos stated practically all of the survivors had been males. The survivors included 30 individuals from Egypt, 10 from Pakistan, 35 from Syria and two Palestinians.
Around 100 individuals had been rescued.
/ AFP by way of Getty ImagesWhy did the boat sink?
On Wednesday morning, the boat started to rock violently after which sank, in keeping with a coastguard assertion. Experts consider the boat might have skilled bother with the engine or run out of gas, and {that a} motion of passengers might have brought on the boat to listing and capsize.
The points with the boat might have develop into obvious the day earlier than it sank. Alarm Phone, a helpline for individuals crossing the Mediterranean Sea, stated it had been “alerted by a boat in distress” on Tuesday.
Authorities in Italy, Greece and Malta had been reportedly alerted to the ship being in misery, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Greek authorities stated that they made contact with the boat however that it didn’t request help. However, NGOs have criticised the Greek authorities for failing to assist sooner.
Survivors had been taken to Kalamata in Greece
/ AFP by way of Getty ImagesWhere did the boat come from and the place was it going?
The boat is believed to have left from japanese Libya. The nation is likely one of the most important departure factors for individuals trying to succeed in Europe on boats organized by human traffickers.
The boat was heading in the direction of Italy however sank round 50 miles off the coast of Greece. Survivors had been taken to the port of Kalamata.