Local fishermen heard the desperate boat passengers screaming and rescued them.
Advertisement
Sarandon has been on the eastern coast of Lesvos near the airport since early Friday and remains at the spot, which is a frequent landing point for migrant and refugee boats.
The wooden boat carrying refugees, including Syrians and Iraqis, sank on Friday night as it travelled from Turkey’s coastal resort of Bodrum to Greece’s Kos Island.
Fourteen people were rescued, but eighteen, including children, were found dead in the sea, the Turkish coast guard informed, Daily Hurriyet reports.
Other officials who attended the meeting with Davutoglu said that before any quotas were agreed, Turkey must show it was serious about cracking down on illegal migration through its territory.
Despite the winter conditions and rougher seas, the exodus has continued, albeit at a slower pace.
According to figures released by UNICEF on December 2, at least 185 children have died in shipwrecks in the Aegean Sea this year along the route between Turkey and Greece.
Prime Minister Erna Solberg says the numbers of immigrants had put “an excessive amount of strain” on Justice Minister Anders Anundsen, whose portfolio has been cut up with the creation of the brand new ministry.
While a few European leaders support an open-door refugee policy, others are in favor of controlling the EU’s external borders, deporting more people and paying third countries to keep asylum seekers on their soil.
Advertisement
The Greek premier said the two countries were working together with regard to reducing the refugee and migrant flow.
