Immigrants Killed As Boat Capsizes Off Greece

By Anthee Carassava, in Athens

Greek coastguards have retrieved the bodies of at least 18 immigrants who drowned in the northeast Aegean Sea after their boat capsized in choppy waters.

Their rubber raft had set off from Turkey's western shores, carrying its captain and 27 passengers, according to a survivor who was rescued near the island of Lesvos.

Neither the identity nor the nationality of the victims have been confirmed, although Kalliope Gerakitou, a spokesman for the National Greek Coast Guard, said those on board the boat included men, women and children.

The island of Lesvos is close to Turkey's western coast

In a similar incident four months ago, more than 60 people, among them unescorted children, drowned off Turkey's western coast, near the Greek island of Samos.

Coastguards in Lesvos said a search and rescue operation was continuing on Saturday in the hope of finding survivors.

Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants, mainly from African and Asian countries, cross through the Greek islands every year, risking their lives in a bid to make their way to other European Union member states.

Human smugglers have been known to charge migrants thousands of dollars to make the journey to Lesvos, using unseaworthy vessels for the crossing.

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