Greek authorities recovered 12 bodies from a migrant boat found about 15 nautical miles south of Crete and said 18 people were rescued by a passing cargo ship.
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Greek authorities recovered 12 bodies from a boat carrying migrants found sailing south of the island of Crete early Monday, the coast guard said.
The boat was located about 15 nautical miles, or about 28 kilometres (18 miles), south of the southern island of Crete on Monday morning. A passing cargo ship rescued 18 people from the same vessel.
The coast guard said no further information was immediately available on the identities of the 12 people who died, or the circumstances of their deaths.
The coast guard also said two other boats—one with 47 people and another with 40 on board—were found sailing south of Crete.
All of the boats were being taken to a port on the southern coast of Crete.
Thousands of migrants have been making the dangerous sea crossing from the northern shores of Africa to Greece in recent months. Greece lies on one of the most frequently used routes for people fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa, the Middle East and Asia heading into Europe.
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