The Greek coast guard said at least 17 people had died after a migrant boat capsized 48 kilometers southwest of the island of Crete.
AFP reported, citing a Greek coastguard spokesman, that the bodies of 17 young men were pulled from the water on Saturday and that two survivors were taken to hospital in critical condition.
An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
“The ship was empty on both sides and the passengers were crowded into a very confined space, which caused the ship to become extremely unstable,” Manolis Frangoulis, the mayor of the port of Crete, told reporters.
Two survivors told rescuers that the ship had become unstable due to bad weather conditions and that the passengers had no shelter to protect themselves and no food or water.
Search and rescue operations are continuing and the number of victims is likely to increase.
