At least 12 dead in migrant boat sinking: Greek coastguard

At least 12 people died on Jan. 11 when a boat loaded with asylum-seekers sank in the Ionian Sea, the Greek coastguard said.

"So far 12 bodies have been recovered. The search and rescue operation continues," the coastguard said.

The boat, with around 50 people on board, took on water near the island of Paxi during an apparent attempt to reach Italy.
Turkey and Greece has been the main route for irregular migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.

Greece is hosting some 70,000 mostly Syrian refugees and migrants who have fled their countries since 2015 and crossed over from neighboring Turkey.

Hundreds of migrants and refugees have died in recent years while attempting to cross the seas in small, overloaded boats.

More than 60 have died so far this year, according to the International Organization for Migration.