ATHENS, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed off the island of Antikythera on the edge of the Aegean Sea, when a vessel carrying refugees and migrants sank on Thursday afternoon, the Greek national news agency AMNA reported Friday.
Ninety passengers, including 52 men, 11 women and 11 minors, were rescued. An operation was underway to locate the missing, AMNA said, citing Hellenic Coast Guard sources. Their number was not clear, and survivors said that there were about 1,000 people on board.
The vessel had set sail from Turkey heading to Italy, according to preliminary information.
It has been the second such tragedy in Greek waters this week.
On Wednesday, the Greek authorities announced that a similar boat sank near Folegandros island. Three people lost their lives, 13 were rescued and an unknown number of poeple were missing.
Many survivors told the authorities that a total of 32 people were on board, while others said the number was 50.
Greece has been at the forefront of the refugee and migrant influx since 2015. Hundreds have perished in the Aegean Sea in the past six years. Enditem
