The Coast Guard has recovered the bodies of three migrants in the maritime area between Farmakonisi and Agathonisi, as a search and rescue mission that began at midday on Tuesday continues.

According to witness reports, the vessel which sank within Turkish territorial waters about 7 nautical miles east of Farmakonisi, carried between 33 and 37 migrants, although this is not an official estimate.

So far Turkish authorities have rescued 13 migrants, while the Greek Coast Guard and Navy have recovered 8, with a further 15 migrants believed to still be missing.