Death toll from overturned migrant/refugee dinghy rises to seven

The recovery by divers of another five dead bodies in the seas around Oinousses has raised the death toll from the capsizing of a dinghy carrying migrants and refugees to seven, authorities announced on Friday afternoon. Earlier, rescue workers had retrieved the drowned bodies of a four-year-old child and baby.

Another 12 people, including several children, have been rescued, while the search for possible missing persons continues.

Whereas initial information had said that there were 18 people on board the dinghy when it overturned, that number has now been revised to at least 19.

A full-scale search and rescue operation was mounted after the capsized dinghy was discovered in waters north of Oinousses, initially by the passenger ship "Nissos Rhodos" that was sailing in the area and subsequently with the participation of Greek coast guard vessels, patrol boats and an aircraft supply by the European border agency Frontex and a Hellenic Air Force helicopter.