Greek Coastguard

Four children died and 22 others were rescued after a boat carrying irregular migrants sank off the coast of Chios, a Greek island located a couple of sea miles away from the Turkish mainland.

Greek officials announced that one person was still missing after the incident which was the latest in a string of similar tragedies that claimed the lives of migrants en route to Europe.

A video released by the Hellenic Coast Guard shows a Greek Coast Guard vessel being harassed by a Turkish Coast Guard boat.

In the video, the Turkish vessel can be seen maneuvering close to the Greek boat at high speed.  

The incident comes amid rising tensions between Greek and Turkish vessels in the Aegean in recent days. 

At least three people were killed and several are missing when a boat capsized in the early hours of Friday. The vessel was carrying illegal immigrants and refugees to Greece from Turkey.

The Greek coastguard that rushed to the scene discovered the body of one woman but two more bodies were recovered in Turkey’s territorial waters by the Turkish Coastguard a few hours later.

GENEVA, June 5 (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency on Friday said it was stepping up its field presence in the eastern Aegean islands of Greece where sea arrivals in recent weeks from Turkey have been averaging some 600 people a day, straining local reception capacities.