The number of migrants who lost their lives after the sinking of the boat they were traveling with near the southern coast of Greece has reached 80.
An extensive search and rescue operation has been underway for hours at sea, as authorities have rescued more than 100 people, while hundreds more are considered missing.
What makes this operation even more difficult is that the exact number of immigrants traveling on the fishing boat is unknown, but it is suspected that there were at least 600 people on board.
The authorities of the Coast Guard of Greece and helicopters are patrolling the scene, as this case of drowning of boats with immigrants is the most serious for this year.
The boat was spotted on Tuesday by Frontex, in international waters, about 80 kilometers southwest of the Greek city of Pylos. Greek Coast Guard authorities said a large number of migrants on deck refused help.
The Greek state television ERT announced that the boat sailing towards the Italian coast had left from the Libyan city of Tobruk. Most of the immigrants in it were young men in their twenties.