Three dead in Ionian migrant boat rescue: Greek coastguard

Athens, Jan 11 (AFP/APP):At least three people died Saturday and another 21 were rescued when a boat loaded with asylum-seekers sank in the Ionian Sea, the Greek coastguard said.

The boat, with around 50 people on board, took on water near the island of Paxi during an apparent attempt to reach Italy. Six coastguard patrol boats and two navy helicopters were engaged in the continuing rescue effort, authorities said.

Four passing cargo ships were also assisting the operation, the coastguard said. Thousands of migrants and refugees have died in recent years while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in small, overloaded boats.

Twenty-two people have died or are still missing in migrant boat sinking in the area between Greece and southern Italy just this month, according to the International Organization for Migration. Another 73 persons were rescued in separate incidents in the Aegean between Friday and Saturday, the Greek coastguard said.