ATHENS: The death toll in the incident of the sinking of a boat at off a Greek island in the eastern Aegean region has increased to 16.
It was earlier reported that 14 people were killed after a suspected people-smuggling boat capsized on Saturday.
As reported by the Sputnik News Agency a large search and rescue operation was underway involving three aircraft, Greek navy and coast guard vessels, a vessel from the European border agency Frontex and private boats.
Greek Migration Policy Minister Dimitris Vitsas offered his condolences to the families of the victims, stressing the need for a relentless crackdown against people smuggling.
Initially, the bodies of four children, one man and one woman were recovered off the island of Agathonisi, south of the island of Samos.
