Cairo/Athens, Dec 16, (dpa/GNA) – Thirty-two migrants have died or are missing, after their boat capsized south of Crete earlier this month, the Egyptian embassy in Athens reported on Tuesday.
The embassy information updated a Greek coastguard report at the beginning of the month, which referred to 18 deaths.
Most of the victims were young Egyptians, Ambassador Omar Amer posted on Facebook. Fourteen of the dead had been identified, and contact was being made with their families, he said.
The Greek coastguard found the disabled boat 10 days ago. Initial reports from coastguard officials said 18 migrants had died in the accident, which occurred during a severe storm with winds gusting up to 90 kilometres per hour that hampered rescue work.
Egypt is a major transit point for migrants seeking to reach Europe, along with other North African countries like Libya and Tunisia. It is also home to many refugees from Syria, Sudan and other African countries.
Egyptian authorities have attempted to curb people-smuggling over recent years, and this has led to a decline in the number of boats departing from Egypt.
GNA