URGENT: Death Toll Rises to 18 in Greek Migrant Boat Sinking: Coastguard

URGENT: Death Toll Rises to 18 in Greek Migrant Boat Sinking: Coastguard
Thu Jan 28, 2016 15:34:22

The death toll in a migrant boat sinking Thursday off the Greek island of Samos has risen to 18 people, with 17 others still missing, the coastguard said.

Only 10 passengers have been rescued from the Aegean Sea, but Greek ships and vessels from European border agency Frontex were still searching for other survivors, according to the coastguard, AFP reported.

The UN says more than 46,000 people have arrived in Greece so far this year, 31 times more than for all of January 2015.

The EU is mulling allowing states in the passport-free Schengen zone to reintroduce border checks for up to two years to cope with the migration crisis.

S/SH

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