The Coast Guard has launched a search and rescue operation off the north coast of Samos, after a wooden boat carrying refugees reportedly capsized. So far 9 people have been rescued and 26 bodies (10 men, 6 women and 10 children) have been recovered.
According to the Coast Guard, they were notified of the capsized boat by a survivor who was found on a beach in the north of the island. The man told the Greek authorities that the wooden boat set sail from the area near Izmir at about 3am on Wednesday. About 40 to 50 people were on board.
One of the survivors is currently being interrogated by the authorities on Samos, as he is alleged to be the human trafficker and operator of the capsized boat.
