Ilias Siakantaris

Greek authorities cannot confirm reports that a fishing vessel that sank off Greece on Wednesday on its way from Libya to Italy had 700-750 people on board, the spokesman for Greece's caretaker government, Ilias Siakantaris, told state broadcaster ERT.

At least 79 migrants died after their boat sank off the Peloponnese, Greece's coastguard said Wednesday, as concern mounted that the death toll could rise much higher.

Some 100 people were rescued after the packed fishing boat capsized in international waters in the Ionian Sea in an operation complicated by strong winds, the coastguard said.

Greece's interim cabinet was officially sworn in during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace Friday.

The caretaker government will head the country until new national elections are held in about a month.

The list of caretaker government ministers set to assume leadership for a month leading up to the second round of elections on June 25 was officially announced on Thursday.