December 23, 2015•Update: December 25, 2015
KOMOTINI, Greece
A boat carrying refugees has sank off Greek island Farmakonisi near Turkey’s coast, killing 13 people – including seven children early on Wednesday.
According to a statement from the Greek Coast Guard, 15 people were rescued while the fatalities included a baby, six children and two women.
An additional person thought to be missing after the accident is still being searched for.
Three of those rescued were taken to hospital on Leros island.
According to latest data from the International Organization for Migration, 800,000 refugees reached Europe via the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece, accounting for 80 percent of the refugees arriving irregularly in Europe by sea in 2015.
According to the UN’s refugee agency, more than 950,000 people in total have reached Europe by sea this year.
