At least 15 people died as two boats carrying migrants capsized along Greek waterline late on Wednesday, reports Associate Press.
The rescuers were looking for dozens others who’re still missing, authorities said on Thursday morning.
The coast guard said 15 bodies had been recovered near the eastern island of Lesbos after a canoe carrying about 40 people sank. Five people were rescued and three had been located on a rocky outcrop near the site of the sinking.
A second rescue effort was launched several hundred kilometers (miles) to the west, near the island of Kythira, where a sailboat carrying about 100 migrants hit rocks and sank late Wednesday.
Officials said 30 people had been rescued after that boat hit rocks off the village port of Diakofti on the east of the island. Winds in the area were up to 70 kph (45 mph).
“We could see the boat smashing against the rocks and people climbing up those rocks to try and save themselves. It was an unbelievable sight,” Martha Stathaki, a local resident told The Associated Press. “All the residents here went down to the harbor to try and help.”
Most migrants’ reaches Greece travelling from neighbor Turkey, but smugglers has changed routes in recent months with a view to avoid heavily patrolled waters around Greek islands near the Turkish coastline.
Kythira is some 400 kilometers (250 miles) west of Turkey and on a route often used by smugglers to bypass Greece and head directly to Italy.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
